CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues,  while presiding over the meeting of Board of Governors, Punjab Public School, Nabha, here Tuesday voiced his serious concern over the growing trend of fulfillment of personal ambitions and short term goals by individuals.

There  is a need for initiating holistic result-oriented programmes, by our education institutions aimed at instilling among the students, a feeling of "us" instead of "we" and "they" and cementing their loyalty to our Country, besides reminding them of our traditional values.

Strongly advocating the need for reinventing our approaches and restructuring the syllabi of our higher and secondary education, General Rodrigues said that this process has already started and the focus is on making our young students professionally competent and confident personalities, alongwith the literary aspects.    He said that a low priority to a value system and good citizenship in our existing education system is diminishing us as a nation, and needs serious attention.

Emphasising the need for further improving Career counselling programmes, General Rodrigues called for proper orientation towards army career and lectures, by experts from different fields should be periodically organized to motivate the students for higher professional studies. He expressed happiness when the Headmaster pointed out that this year three students made it to National Defence Academy (NDA).  He stressed the need for forging tie up arrangements with Western Command, Army Headquarters, Univesities and corporate houses to provide an opportunity to the students of the institution to broaden their vision, and advise them about career selection.

General Rodrigues also emphasized the need to strengthen contacts with the alumni of the institution to seek their help and support in terms of their expertise, knowledge and experience in different fields for the further development of the institution. 

Manpreet Badal, Finance Minister, Punjab, while taking part in the deliberations, informed that he will give a grant of Rs. 5.00 lakhs  to the corporate fund, for each student who makes to NDA from PPS Nabha. He also assured more financial support, to the school, for promotion its academic programmes.

Various issues including approval of budget for the year, 2008-09 were discussed in the meeting and it was resolved to further improve academic and sport standards in the School.  The construction work of the Indoor multi-facility sports complex is in full swing and will be completed in the stipulated time frame.

Commodore (Retd.) I.L. Sayal, Headmaster of Public School Nabha gave a detailed account of the activities and achievements of the Institution.

Prominent among others who attended the meeting included Mr. K.N. Singh, IAS (Retd.), Mr. S.C. Agrawal, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce, Punjab, Mr. K.S. Sidhu, Principal Secretary Higher Education, Punjab, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi, Mr. M.P. Singh, Secretary to Governor, Mr. Pawan Munjal, a leading industrialist and Brig Sukhjit Singh, MVC from Kapurthala..