New Delhi: On the lines of their private counterparts, the Delhi government schools will soon have their own alumni associations. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia directed the education department to institutionalise a system for this purpose. Mr Sisodia has asked that a plan of action on this be submitted to him by August 1.

According to the plan, government schools will also organise annual alumni meets to engage with their former students. Engagement of schools with their alumni is a practice followed by most private schools. An official said that the move is in line with the government’s efforts to make government schools at par with private schools.

In a letter to the directorate of education, the deputy chief minister has directed the department to draw up a detailed plan to institutionalise alumni associations, meets and events. “It is important to inspire students to improve their academic performance. This can be done by alumni from the same school, who have been successful academically and professionally,” Mr Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said.

He has also directed the department to launch a website for former students of all schools to register themselves as alumni. The schools will be asked to reach out to successful alumni and invite them to interact with students.