NANGAL: Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, on Tuesday, said that feedback of parents, taken during Parents-Teachers Meeting, has played a vital role in rapidly improving Punjab's government schools.
While participating in a Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) program at School of Eminence, Nangal, the Cabinet Minister said that under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's leadership, the Punjab government has prioritized health and education as key focus areas. "Consequently, our government has initiated constructive measures in the Education Department from day one", said Harjot Singh Bains, adding that the decision to start parent-teacher meetings was made to obtain accurate feedback on government initiatives, which has significantly contributed to improving government schools in Punjab.
The Education Minister shared that the PTM program has not only boosted student morale but also increased engagement from both teachers and parents. Bains revealed that these meetings have yielded several important suggestions from parents and implementing these has created a wave of satisfaction among parents and teachers.
He said that several educators shared their experiences during the the PTM program. Mahinder Chaudhary, Headmaster of Government High School Ghaggar in district Sri Muktsar Sahib reported significant increase in parent participation, leading to improvements in students' academic performance and personality development. Similarly, Muhammad Khalil, Social Studies teacher at Government Senior Secondary Smart School Bhogiwal of district Malerkotla explained how PTMs help identify both strengths and areas for improvement in students, enabling collaborative efforts between parents and teachers.
This initiative has transformed the traditional parent-teacher interaction model, as noted by Harjinder Singh Raja, a teacher from Government Primary School, Manakpur Sharif. He mentioned that previously, only a few parents would inquire about their children's performance, but since the introduction of Mega PTM by the Bhagwant Singh Mann government, participation has increased substantially, resulting in improved academic outcomes and personality development.
Likewise, Ishwar Sharma, Social Studies teacher at Government Middle School Lohgarh in district Ferozepur, highlighted parents' enthusiasm, mentioning they arrive even at 8:30 AM, well before the scheduled meeting time of 9:00 AM.
Navjot Khaira, Principal of School of Eminence Ramsara of Fazilka district reported increased parent participation. He said that the meetings have also sparked interest in new initiatives like the Business Blaster scheme, with parents eagerly requesting their children's participation in such programs.
The Cabinet Minister said that the meetings have facilitated better understanding of students' interests, enabling teachers to guide their personality development accordingly, while also improving academic results and overall student development.