Chandigarh: From Tuesday, some of the most powerful and accomplished figures in Chandigarh — from senior IAS and IPS officers to Panjab University professors — will be mentors to the city’s government school students.As part of the newly launched ‘Adopt a School – Inspire a Generation’ programme, 42 senior secondary schools have been allotted mentors drawn from the administration, academia, medical profession and industry. The initiative aims to bring real-world exposure, career guidance, life skills and emotional support to school students, especially in Classes 11 and 12.Among IAS officers who have adopted schools are Ajay Chagti (GMSSS-15), Prerna Puri (GMSSS-21), Mandeep Singh Brar (GMSSS-16), Rajeev Verma (PM SHRI GGMSSS-18), Surya Chander Kant (GGMSSS-20B), Sorabh Kumar Arora (GMSSS-22A and 28D), Mohd Mansoor (GMSSS-23A), and Amit Kumar (GGMSSS-23NYC and GMSSS-47).IPS officers have also joined in, including Pushpendra Kumar (GMSSS-8), Sumer Partap Singh (GMSSS-33), Kanwardeep Kaur (GMSSS-35), and Paviter Singh (GSSS-Khuda Lahora). DANICS officers Swapnil M Naik (GMSSS-20D), Akhil Kumar (GMSSS-32), and Naveen (GMSSS-37D) are also part of the programme.From Panjab University, over 30 professors have been assigned schools. Among the mentors is Yajvender Pal Verma, Registrar of Panjab University, who will mentor Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 8. At GMSSS-16, former DSW (Women) Prof Nandita Shukla Singh from PU’s Department of Education will work closely with the school community. Anju Suri, head of PU’s History Department, is mentoring the school in Sector 23.Each mentor is expected to visit their school at least once a month, lead sessions on career and life skills, and help students navigate challenges like stress, cyber threats and lack of exposure. Schools have been directed to showcase the mentor prominently and align school activities with the mentorship calendar.“This is a long-term vision to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity,” said Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, Director, School Education. “Our mentors are not just achievers, they are guides.”For many students, this will be their first real contact with leaders who shape the city, now not behind podiums, but in their classrooms.BOX- 132 MENTORSA total of 132 mentors have been appointed under the “Adopt a School – Inspire a Generation” programme in Chandigarh. These include:42 IAS, IPS, PCS, and other senior officers42 doctors (mostly from the Department of Community Medicine and Psychiatry)42 professors (primarily from Panjab University and affiliated colleges)42 entrepreneurs and professionals from diverse sectorsEach of the 42 government senior secondary schools has been assigned one mentor from each category, making it a four-mentor team per school.
