In a huge step towards an improvement in quality school education for Punjab, the state government will be sending off its seventh lot of 36 school principals from the state for a five-day advanced training session in Singapore. The initiative was led by Punjab School Education Department and is devised to equip the school leaders with the latest best practices in other parts of the world and with innovative teaching methods.
School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Sunday announced that as many as 198 principals and education officers have already attended training at Singapore's Principal Academy under the Leadership Development Programme. The next batch will leave for Singapore in March 2025. The idea is to make a positive difference in Punjab's educational system by improving leadership skills and inculcating contemporary pedagogical practices among teachers.
Furthermore, an 'International Education Affairs Cell (IEAC)' has been constituted in the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) for encouraging such international exposure for teachers, school heads, and education administrators. It has been initiated so that teachers have exposure to the global system of education so they can get adequate tools for school and classroom improvement.
Minister Bains explained the eligibility criteria for the program, including that applicants should not be above 53 years of age as of January 31, 2025, and should hold a valid Indian passport with validity up to at least September 2025. Candidates must have a clean service record with no pending charge sheets, inquiries, or criminal cases. The selection will be strictly merit-based by taking into consideration educational qualifications, professional experience, Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs), and awards.
This program will consist of workshops, seminars, and on-the-job hands-on sessions on leadership and teaching skills. The training will use Singapore as an example of the world's best education system; the participating principals will be exposed to new ways of classroom engagement, school administration, and all-around student development.
