Punjab govt school principal offers free flights to students qualifying for merit list

In order to break a 12-year streak of class 10th and 12th students in a Ferozepur government school not making the merit list, the principal of the school pledged to pay for the flights of all students that would qualify for the state merit list in their board exams.

The reward seemed to have worked, with four students making the merit list this year after 12 years of any student from the school failing to do so.

Rakesh Sharma, the principal of Shaheed Gurdas Ram Memorial Government Senior Secondary School (Girls) at Zira in Ferozepur, honoured his promise and took up the costs of air travel for the students from his own pocket.

“The students wished for ‘jahaaz da jhoota’ (travel by air), and I told them it is my commitment to fulfil their wish…I announced in a prayer meeting that if any student of Class 10 or 12 secures merit position in Board exams, I will ensure air travel for any destination of their choice within the country,” Sharma joyously expressed.

“By the grace of God, four students—two of Class 10 and two of Class 12—secured merit positions in the final exams…Two Class 12 students, Bhajanpreet Kaur and Simranjeet Kaur, went to Goa from Amritsar on a flight in November last year. Both of them attended the India International Innovation and Invention Expo (INEX-2022) in Goa,” the principal further continued.

The other two students will be visiting Delhi, taking a flight from Amritsar to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Red Fort and other places in the National Capital, Sharma added.

“Students have now correlated the merit position with air travel,” he said, speaking of the innovative incentive.