Rajesh Sharma, Keekli Reporter, 28th November, Shimla
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, on the occasion of annual day celebration, expressed satisfaction that Portmore School had emerged as one of the premier Government Senior Secondary School of the state in government sector which was providing quality education to the girl students. He congratulated the teachers and children for undertaking various constructive activities like plantation drive, cleanliness in the school premises besides excelling in sports activities at the state and national level competitions.
The State Government is resolute to impart qualitative and vocational education to the youth of the state to enable them to compete in the present era of cut-throat competition and providing them ample opportunities for employment and self-employment. New educational institutes are being opened up especially in the rural areas and it is also being ensured that these institutes have adequate staff and required infrastructure.
On the demand of the School Management Committee (SMC) the Chief Minister gave his consent to wear skirt as school dress for the girl students of 6th to 8th standard during summer season, as well as wear trek-suits on Mondays and Saturdays.The Chief Minister distributed prizes to meritorious students in different streams and also presented awards to the players who won prizes in national level sports events.
He said that more than 19,000 schools were functional in government sector. He said that the Government was endeavouring to provide education facilities in these schools at par with private institutions and new courses were being introduced in the curriculum to benefit the students of rural areas. He said that all the colleges opened in interior areas, had helped in improving the literacy rate of girl child. The girls were not only excelling in academics but also in other co-curricular activities, which was good for the society, he added.
The Chief Minister directed the Education Department to dismantle and reconstruct the old Primary School building of Portmore School. He also directed to construct a bridge to connect the conference hall with the another block of the school and approved Rs. 31 lakh for the work. He also directed Education Department to establish language laboratory in the school.
Principal Nisha Bhalooni read the annual report of the school, which was followed by a variety of cultural programme was presented by the students. Mayor Municipal Corporation, Shimla Shri Sanjay Chauhan, former Mayor Smt. Madhu Sood, Deputy Commissioner Dinesh Malhotra, State Project Director (SSA) Ghanshyam Chand, alumini of the Portmore School, teachers and students in large number were present.
