Chandigarh, April 11: The Punjab Education Department has directed all district education officers and school heads to avoid holding foundation stone or inauguration ceremonies for minor repair works in government schools.
In a circular issued this week, the department noted such symbolic events were “unwarranted” and risked creating a “misinterpretation of government efforts.” The directive applies particularly to small-scale infrastructure improvements, such as toilet repairs or minor classroom refurbishments.
The order came in the wake of public criticism faced by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Labh Singh Ugoke, who recently inaugurated a toilet at a government school in Ghunas village, located in the Bhadaur constituency of Barnala district. The ceremony was held under the ongoing ‘Sikhya Kranti’ initiative, a flagship program launched by the state to revamp educational infrastructure.
“The initiative is about creating meaningful change in schools, not organising events for small repairs,” a department official said. “Our focus must stay on improving quality outcomes and ensuring lasting impact, rather than engaging in ceremonial activities.”
The department also reminded officials that official programs should reflect the scale and intent of government schemes. “When a minor repair is given the status of a major inauguration, it distorts the perception of the government’s actual development work,” the official added.
MLA Ugoke has not responded publicly to the controversy, though his participation in the event triggered a broader discussion on the optics of school-related ceremonies.
