Punjab Selects 1,728 Government School Students For Free PACE Coaching Camps

The Punjab government has selected 1,728 students from its government schools for free residential coaching camps under the Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) program. These winter camps will prepare students for national-level competitive examinations, including IIT-JEE, NIT, and AIIMS entrances. Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains announced that the camps will be conducted at three centers: Bathinda (601 students), Ludhiana (573 students), and SAS Nagar (Mohali) (554 students). The initiative forms part of the Mann government’s efforts to provide high-quality coaching to students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The program aims to bridge the gap between government school students and premier professional institutions.

Students were chosen through a rigorous multi-stage selection process that evaluated performance in mock tests, conceptual understanding, academic consistency, and teacher recommendations. Twenty percent of seats at each center have been reserved for students from other government schools and drop-year aspirants. This ensures the program benefits a wider group beyond Schools of Eminence and Residential Schools for Meritorious Students. The selection process reflects the government’s commitment to merit and inclusivity. It also encourages participation from students who may otherwise lack access to specialized coaching.

The residential coaching camps will be supported by expert faculty from reputed organizations such as Physics Wallah, Vidya Mandir, and Avanti Fellows. The curriculum focuses on concept-building, problem-solving, and patterns specific to JEE and NEET examinations. In addition to regular classroom sessions, students will benefit from daily doubt-clearing classes, individual mentoring, stress management modules, and career guidance. These comprehensive arrangements aim to build confidence and competence among participants. The camps will provide early exposure to Class 11 students while offering final-stage preparation for Class 12 aspirants.

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The Punjab government has made detailed arrangements for a fully residential experience, including accommodation, meals, supervision, medical support, and counselling. All centers will follow standardized academic planning and centralized monitoring to maintain quality and discipline. The minister highlighted positive outcomes from previous years, noting that 265 government school students cleared JEE Main, 45 qualified for JEE Advanced, and 847 cleared NEET. These results demonstrate the program’s effectiveness in transforming access to top-tier institutions. The initiative continues to expand with each passing year.

The PACE program underscores Punjab’s focus on equitable education and empowering students from government schools to compete at national levels. By providing free, high-quality coaching in a residential setting, the state aims to reduce the coaching-industry divide and promote merit-based success. The camps are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of thousands of talented students across Punjab. The government remains committed to scaling such efforts to benefit more aspirants. This step reflects a long-term vision for educational excellence and social mobility in the state.

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