At just 17, Gagandeep Kaur, a resident of Tahirpura village in Baba Bakala, Amritsar, has sparked a significant change in Punjab's education system. Her question to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann during a public event led to the announcement that the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) will no longer use age as a tie-breaker to rank students with identical scores.
The Question That Changed a Convention
Gagandeep, a student of Amber Public Senior Secondary School in Nawa Tanel, scored 98% in the Class 10 PSEB exams, tying with two other students from her school. She felt the existing practice of using age to break ties was unfair. 'It was about fairness and about the practice that treated students differently. Many students present at the event later told me that they too had the same concern but chose to remain silent,' Gagandeep told Amritsar Tribune.
Inspired by Her Teacher
Gagandeep credits her Punjabi teacher, Jatinderpal Kaur, for encouraging her to speak out. 'She is the one who has always encouraged me to speak out. She writes and inspires me to read,' Gagandeep said. She loves reading Punjabi poetry and essays by Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and in her free time, she helps her mother at home or goes for walks in her village.
Family Background and Aspirations
Her father, Nishan Singh, works as a driver in the UAE, while her mother, Sukhrak Kaur, is a homemaker. Gagandeep aspires to study law and become a judge. 'I feel that I need to speak for people who have no voice,' she said.
Village Life and Social Awareness
Despite her village being 'underdeveloped,' Gagandeep remains aware of local issues. 'Our village has a lot of problems, but we have a good community that comes together to solve issues. There is a problem of drug abuse, but families take a stand against it. People have also started sending their kids to school. The government school, which was earlier till Class 10, was recently upgraded to senior secondary level,' she shared.
Gagandeep believes that when people question, the government listens, and policy change occurs. Her courage has not only changed a long-standing convention but also inspired many students to raise their voices for fairness.
