Smart classes and finishing schools in Punjab colleges

Chandigarh, August 14: The Punjab government Wednesday announced that government colleges in the state will have "smart classes" and "finishing schools" to improve the quality of higher education.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal gave approval for setting up "smart classes" in all the government colleges of the state, a spokesman from the chief minister's office said here.

Badal said there is a need for upgrading and strengthening the higher education sector in the state, adding the smart classes will equip students to handle high-end technologies. He said there will be ultra-modern libraries and laboratories in these colleges to benefit the students.

Badal approved the allocation of Rs.5 lakh each to all the government colleges under this project. The chief minister also approved opening of "finishing schools" in select government colleges to impart vocational and skill training to students in hospitality, airlines, sales and marketing, IT and networking and retail sectors.

The government colleges selected are in Hoshiarpur, Tanda Urmur, Mansa, Bathinda, Tarn Taran, Jagraon, Patiala, Faridkot, Sunam, Gurdaspur, Ajnala, Dhudike and Ludhiana. The state government will spend Rs.38 lakh for setting up these finishing schools in 14 colleges selected in the first phase while the remaining colleges will be covered in the subsequent phases.

IANS