School Principal offers free air travel to students figuring in Board exam merit list

At Zira in Ferozepur, Rakesh Sharma, principal of Shaheed Gurdas Ram Memorial Government Senior Secondary School (Girls), pays for students' air travel expenses out of his own pocket.

Punjab: An overjoyed principal of a government school in Punjab's Ferozepur district honored four students who appeared on the merit list of the state board exams, ending a 12-year wait. In Ferozepur, Shaheed Gurdas Ram Memorial Government Senior Secondary School (Girls) principal Rakesh Sharma is paying students' air travel expenses himself.

Since 2012, none of the school's students have made it to the merit list of the Punjab School Education Board exams for the 10th and 12th grades. In an effort to motivate students to study hard, Sharma asked them about their wishes that he would fulfill if they were selected.

''I announced in a prayer meeting that if any student of 10th or 12th class secures merit positions in board exams, I will ensure air travel for any destination of their choice within the country,'' as per the PTI he added.

Sharma said another 22 students have now registered themselves for merit positions in classes 10 and 12 after two students used the air travel facility. (India Today) reports