In a first, Kapurthala Sainik School opens door for girl students

Kapurthala: For the first time in its history, the Sainik School, Kapurthala, has enrolled girl students for 2021-22 academic session, here.
The school management enrolled the girl students following the Union government’s objective of enabling greater participation of women in the Armed Forces, and strengthening the motto of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’.
The school has enrolled 10 girl students in 6th standard for the first time since its establishment in 1961 after a recent directive issued by the Ministry of Defence. The classes began on August 1 this year.
There are a total of 33 Sainik Schools across the country, which helps young cadets prepare themselves to be part of the National Defence Academy, Kadakwasla. But none of the schools had been admitting girl students until now.
In line with the Union government’s objective of enabling greater participation of women in the Armed Forces, and strengthening the motto of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, all the Sainik Schools will be enrolling girl students from the next academic session.
The application process for All India Sainik School Entrance Examination started on October 20, and Kapurthala School had received over 300 applications from students. The school conducted the entrance exam at five centres across the state i.e. Kapurthala, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Faridkot by the National Testing Agency, who sought admission to Class 6 and Class 9 in any of the 33 Sainik Schools across the country.
The official spokesperson of school principal Col Prasant Saxena said that 10 students have been enrolled in the school and online classes of students have been started for this session.
A School spokesperson said that arrangements are being made to make the stay of the girl students safe and comfortable in the school. The school management is likely to open the school from next week.
The 250-acre campus in the heart of Kapurthala city was inaugurated on 8th July, 1961 by the then Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon, with the objective of preparing boys academically, physically and mentally to join NDA. The School is located in the palace of the erstwhile maharaja of Kapurthala and this palace was built in 1908 on the pattern of Versailles built by Louis- the xiv of France. It has been fulfilling its basic objective by producing more than 700 officers for the Indian armed forces through National Defence Academy.