Government School Kaudiyanwali student Jashandeep creates history in IIT-JEE

Fazilka, June 6 : The Government Model Senior Secondary School in the border village of Kaureanwali, Fazilka district, has created a new milestone for the government education system of Punjab. Jashandeep Singh, a student of Class 12 (Non-Medical Science stream) and resident of village Badha, has brought glory not only to himself but also to his parents Gurmeet Singh and Seema Rani, his school, his village, and the entire state of Punjab by succeeding in one of the toughest national-level exams — IIT-JEE Advanced.

To honour this achievement, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann personally invited Jashandeep to CM House, Chandigarh, and felicitated him. This was not merely an individual recognition, but a historic moment that strengthened the capabilities and aspirations of government schools in Punjab.

It is noteworthy that 40 students from government schools across Punjab cleared the IIT-JEE exam this year, and the success of Jashandeep Singh from a rural border-area school stands out as a beacon of hope.

This success is not just the result of Jashandeep’s hard work, but also a direct outcome of the visionary leadership, professional planning, and teamwork of the school’s Principal, Dr. Rajeev Makkar. Due to his efforts in providing high-quality education, transforming the school into a smart campus, and effectively utilizing government grants, he has already been honoured by the Education Secretary of the Punjab Government with a special certificate of appreciation. Moreover, Dr. Makkar personally contributed lakhs of rupees to upgrade the school’s infrastructure, student facilities, and introduce modern technology-enabled classrooms. Under his leadership, the school — lovingly called the "drawing room school" — now boasts a beautiful building and a student-centered environment.

Experienced and dedicated lecturers in the Non-Medical Science department — Mr. Arun Gupta (Physics), Mrs. Manju Sethi (Mathematics), and Mrs. Sheetal Kataria (Chemistry) — made special efforts using innovative teaching methods. With Dr. Makkar’s professional organization, the science faculty conducted regular doubt-clearing sessions, weekly tests, enhanced practical training, and used LED projectors and other tools for teaching, while giving personal attention to each student.

A significant contribution to this success also came from the Saathi App, launched under the visionary leadership of Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains. Under the able guidance of Assistant Directors Mrs. Balwinder Kaur and Mrs. Jaswinder Kaur, this app is carefully monitored and provides high-quality study materials to medical and non-medical students. The content, prepared by some of India’s top science professors and subject experts, is made freely available to government school students. This especially benefits those students who cannot afford expensive online or offline coaching from reputed academies — a visionary initiative by the Punjab Education Department.

Not just Jashandeep, but his sister Jasmine Kaur, also a brilliant student of the same school and daughter of former SMC Chairman S. Surjit Singh, has also cleared JEE. It is worth noting that in previous years too, this school has produced several successful candidates in JEE, NEET, and MBBS admissions.

Despite being located in a rural area, Kaureanwali School has now become the first choice of students even from the city of Fazilka. National English daily The Indian Express has referred to this school as a “Trendsetter School.” Presently, students from around 15 nearby villages study here, and interestingly, more than 50% of the students from Fazilka city itself come to this rural school for quality education — a truly remarkable fact. Even the principal’s own son has been studying here for the past five years, which stands as a model example presented by the education department officials.

This achievement is not just an individual triumph, but a testament to the capability, leadership, and innovation of Punjab's government education system. When commitment, planning, teamwork, and visionary leadership come together, even government schools can surpass private institutions. Overall, these achievements in the border region validate the success of the Punjab government’s education model and education revolution.