Ludhiana: Despite receiving the lion’s share of state funding, Ludhiana’s prestigious “Schools of Eminence” are struggling to live up to their name as critical staff shortages and stalled infrastructure projects leave the flagship educational programme in limbo.New government data reveals that while the district hosts 16 of the 118 elite schools and has secured the highest level of provincial grants for upgrades, the “shine” of the initiative is being dulled by a significant gap between financial investment and ground reality. The most pressing concern for the district’s specialised schools is a lack of permanent leadership. Seven of Ludhiana’s 16 Schools of Eminence (SOEs) are currently operating without a regular principal.Amandeep Singh, deputy district education officer (secondary), confirmed the vacancies, noting that recent retirements have exacerbated the problem. “Principals from three schools retired in recent months, with another from the Jagraon SOE retiring on March 31,” Singh said. The staffing issues extend to the classroom. At SOE Mundian Kalan, 175-odd senior students in the medical and non-medical streams have been without a permanent chemistry teacher since 2021.School officials claim they cannot hire a specialist because the education department has not sanctioned a post for the subject. Currently, chemistry classes are being conducted by mathematics and commerce teachers.While the new academic session has begun, two high-profile SOEs in the Millerganj and Kidwai Nagar areas remain shuttered. Despite multiple inspections by local lawmakers and the passing of several deadlines, residents are still waiting for an official opening date to seek admissions.In Samrala, the SOE faces a different hurdle: illegal encroachment. Authorities say unauthorized structures in front of the school building have created safety hazards and blocked access for students and staff. Despite repeated complaints, the barriers remain.Waning Interest?The prestige of the programme also appears to be facing a test of public confidence. Participation in this year’s entrance exams for SOEs and “Meritorious Schools” was significantly lower than anticipated. Total registered students were 24,420, while the actual Attendance was 12,923 (just 52.9%). Even after the education department extended registration deadlines, nearly half of the registered candidates failed to appear for the test.
