The activities and achievements of Punjab’s government schools will now reach the public via social media. The Punjab School Education Department has directed all government schools in the state to create and maintain an active official account on at least one social media platform.
Schools are required to set up and actively manage an official account on any one of the following platforms: X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram. The department aims to showcase positive school activities, the achievements of students and teachers, and innovative teaching practices on a wider scale. Instructions issued by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) state that schools already possessing official social media accounts must submit details of these accounts via a designated web form.
Meanwhile, schools that do not yet have an official social media account must create one on X, Facebook, or Instagram. Account details must be registered through the ‘mStar’ portal.
**Sharing Information on Positive School Activities**
The department has instructed school heads to regularly share information regarding the school’s positive initiatives and significant activities on these social media accounts.
This includes student and teacher achievements, innovative classroom teaching practices, work undertaken by the School Management Committee (SMC), and other important events organized at the school. This initiative will enable parents and the general public to stay informed about the work being done in government schools, while also providing a public platform to highlight the achievements of students and teachers.
**Updating Student Records**
Alongside the creation of social media accounts, the Education Department has directed that student records be updated on the ‘mStar’ app. School heads have been asked to verify and update the complete residential address of every student.
Additionally, wherever available, the mobile numbers of both parents or guardians must be verified and recorded. The department had issued instructions to complete this process by July 24. Responsibility for Oversight Assigned to District Education Officers
District Education Officers (Secondary and Primary) have been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring compliance with these directives across all government schools within their jurisdiction. Officials must also ensure that schools lacking an official social media account create one on the designated platform and register the details on the M-Star portal. Additionally, student records must be updated in a timely manner.
The Education Department has instructed officials to oversee the entire process and ensure the completion of both tasks within the stipulated timeframe. This initiative will not only provide a broader platform to showcase the activities of government schools but also help in maintaining student records in a more organized and up-to-date manner.
