A banner outside the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sarih, reads, “School Sans Cheating — All students pledge that they will never cheat during exams.” Thus, sending clear indications to parents and visitors on what to expect if they want their wards to study here.

In an age of manufactured pupil quantity and bogus school admissions amid pressure, a government school in Jalandhar believes that it’s better for students to fail rather than to pass through unfair means.

Taking this pledge further, the teachers at have implemented their decision quite literally through myriad changes and upgrades in school infrastructure. Eighteen CCTV cameras have been installed at school premises.

While majority of the government schools in the district now have CCTV coverage of their premises from the outside, the GGSSS, Sarih, has found a novel way to curb cheating – a CCTV inside every classroom. As a result, the school is now “nakal rahit”.

When Kanwaljit Singh, current incharge walked into the GGSSS, Sarih, in 2023, he found a mess. Bogus admissions, unruly students walking in and out at will and pupils used to cheating. Bent at reining in the mischief, he devised novel ways to get everyone in line.

From the classrooms to staff room, principal’s and even clerk’s rooms, every section is under CCTVs. Earlier, several entrance doors rendered tracking students difficult, so he closed all and retained a single door to check naughty students from slipping out. The school was also tormented with thefts, which also stopped.

Along with checks, a special auto has been roped in by the school authorities to bring in students from remote villages which could earlier not afford to send their wards to school. Fee of poor students is also paid by the staff.

Kanwaljit said, “We celebrate when our students get 85 per cent to 92 per cent marks, because we know they have performed entirely through their own hard work. When I came to the school it had 122 pupils, but there were many bogus admissions. We did away with defaulters and our admissions came down but now they are slowly rising. Our motto is to produce students of substance. Once in jobs, they will compete with other hardworking students.”

The auto highlighting the message of “nakal rahit school” ferries 43 children from Tahli, Sheikhan, Hussainabad, Dhaliwal and other villages.

The school also receives donation worth Rs 50,000 for beautification and infrastructure projects from the panchayat and NRIs. Interlocking tiles, additional bathrooms and a number of educational drives are other recent initiatives taken by the staff. Free stationery is also disbursed through do-gooders.

Kanwaljit added, “When I first came here, I started with ‘no cheating’ pledge for students and teachers. Then we printed banners and installed CCTVs. Slowly more people started sending in wards. Now, we bring in students from significant distances. Students do wonders when they are taught fairness and ethics early on.”