Students at Punjab's government schools now have a clear path to becoming future engineers and doctors. The state has launched the Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) programme, offering free, specialised coaching for JEE and NEET exams at 118 Schools of Eminence and 14 Meritorious Schools.
According to The Tribune, the programme directly addresses a major barrier for students from modest-income families — the high cost of private coaching.
Why Free Coaching Matters for JEE and NEET Aspirants
Private coaching for competitive exams like JEE and NEET typically costs between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. For many families, this expense puts quality preparation completely out of reach. The PACE programme aims to bridge this gap by providing the same level of structured coaching entirely free of cost.
The coaching was introduced on July 22, with classes conducted by Physics Wallah faculty during regular school hours. This setup means students do not need to travel to expensive coaching centres or manage extra schedules — the preparation happens right in their own schools.
What the Coaching Programme Covers
The classes run from 8 am to 11.40 am, covering the core science subjects needed for engineering and medical entrance exams:
- Physics — for Classes XI and XII science stream students
- Chemistry — for Classes XI and XII science stream students
- Mathematics — for Classes XI and XII science stream students
- Biology — for Classes XI and XII science stream students
Beyond the senior classes, the programme also provides foundation-level Mathematics coaching for students in Classes IX and X. This early start helps younger students build strong basics before they reach the competitive exam stage.
Our Take: A Smart Investment in Future Talent
To put it plainly, this programme tackles one of the biggest inequalities in Indian education — the gap between students who can afford expensive coaching and those who cannot. By bringing Physics Wallah faculty into government schools and charging nothing, Punjab is giving talented students from all backgrounds a fair shot at engineering and medical colleges.
The decision to hold classes during school hours is particularly smart. It removes the burden of extra travel and tuition fees, and it keeps students in a familiar learning environment. For families who could never dream of spending Rs 3 lakh on coaching, this programme could genuinely change their child's future.
What remains to be seen is how effectively the programme is implemented on the ground and whether it can be expanded to reach even more students. But the direction is right — and for the students of Jalandhar and across Punjab, the door to becoming an engineer or doctor just opened wider.
