Harjot Singh Bains Ensures No Academic Penalty for Students Returning Home

Bains Orders Universities to Provide Food, Shelter, and Support for Students

Ensuring student safety remains a key priority in Punjab's higher education institutions, with Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains emphasising strict accountability for universities. In response to growing concerns, Bains has instructed institutions to take concrete measures to safeguard students, providing food, shelter, and essential support.

Moreover, he has further assured that no student should be forced to stay for exams if they choose to return home, with universities expected to reschedule or offer alternative arrangements. To strengthen communication channels, the minister has mandated the appointment of nodal officers and helpdesks to address student concerns, underscoring that any negligence in maintaining safety standards will lead to serious consequences for university administrations.

Bains instructed institutes to ensure the safety and well-being of all students remaining on campus, particularly those unable or unwilling to leave due to safety, transport, or personal reasons. He clarified that no student should be compelled to stay for examinations if they choose to return home, and assured that such students would not face academic penalties. He added that universities could reschedule exams or offer alternative arrangements.

To strengthen support systems, the minister asked institutions to appoint nodal officers and set up helpdesks to maintain clear communication with students and address their concerns. He stressed that student safety must remain a top priority and warned that any failure in meeting safety standards would lead to serious consequences, with university managements being held directly responsible.These measures reinforce the government’s firm stance on safeguarding student welfare across all campuses.

Editor’s Note:

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains’ firm stance on students' safety is both timely and commendable. In a climate where student welfare is often treated as an afterthought, his decision to hold universities personally accountable marks a much-needed shift in administrative responsibility. By insisting on food, shelter, and support for students—without forcing anyone off campus—Bains is setting a standard that other states should take seriously. More importantly, his assurance that no student will face academic penalties for prioritising their well-being reflects a humane and student-centric approach to governance. Mandating helpdesks and nodal officers is a practical step that puts accountability into action rather than mere rhetoric.

Skoobuzz emphasises that universities must not treat these directives as symbolic or temporary. Student safety must become an embedded principle—not just in times of crisis, but as a consistent, everyday priority.