Chandigarh, August 13, 2026: Governor Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria today laid the foundation stone of a new block at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Maloya, marking another significant step towards strengthening educational infrastructure in Chandigarh.
Shri Saurabh Joshi, Mayor, Chandigarh; Shri H. Rajesh Prasad, IAS, Chief Secretary, U.T. Chandigarh; Ms. Prerna Puri, IAS, Secretary Education; Shri Nitish Singla, PCS, Director School Education; Shri Rajiv Tewari, Director Public Relations; Shri C.B. Oja, Chief Engineer; Shri Rajeev Mehta, Chief Architect; and other senior officers of the Education Department and Chandigarh Administration were present on the occasion.
Principal, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Maloya, Dr. Tejvir Kaur welcomed the dignitaries and briefed them about the school and its achievements. School students presented patriotic songs and a flute recital. The Administrator felicitated students who had excelled in sports and brought laurels to the school and motivated them to continue striving for excellence.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria cited the examples of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, saying that determination and education can help overcome adversity. He said Chandigarh has set a strong example in school education by maintaining the top position in the Ministry of Education’s Performance Grading Index and achieving the ‘Uttam-3’ grade in 2025-26. He highlighted that 538 government school students have scored above 90 per cent in Classes 10 and 12 and that Government Model Senior Secondary School, Maloya, has achieved a 100 per cent result this year. He said counselling after Class 10 and mentorship by experienced professionals can further help students make informed choices and strengthen their performance.
Emphasising the importance of sports in the holistic development of children, Shri Kataria said that schools that encourage sports help students develop discipline, confidence and a competitive spirit. He called upon parents, teachers and the community to work together to create a positive and nasha-mukt environment in schools. He said stronger collaboration between parents and teachers would further improve the school environment and support students’ overall development. Reflecting on his own journey from a school teacher to Governor, he said education has the power to transform lives and open new opportunities. The Governor directed that the new block be completed within the stipulated period of one-and-a-half years while ensuring quality and safety.
Spread over a plot area of 2.24 acres, the proposed three-storeyed building will provide a modern learning environment with eight classrooms, a library and dedicated laboratories for computer science, science, mathematics, social science and home science. It will also feature a multimedia room, sports room, fine arts room, counselling room, medical room and Samagra Shiksha room. The building will incorporate provisions for solar power generation, rainwater harvesting and a modern fire detection and firefighting system. Accessibility features including warning blocks, Braille signage, accessible doors, manoeuvring spaces and grab bars will also be provided to ensure an inclusive campus.