BATHINDA, Nov. 17 -- The Government Sports Senior Secondary School, a pioneering institution designed to nurture sports talent in rural areas, is set to undergo a major restructuring after the state government agreed in principle to integrate the sports and education departments. This move aims to streamline the management of the school and enhance both sports training and academic performance for its students. Located at Ghudda in Bathinda and a brainchild of the former chief minister late Parkash Singh Badal, the residential school was established in 2010 to identify and nurture talented players in rural areas. The institute is being run by a local committee headed ex-officio by the Bathinda deputy commissioner (DC). The school has sanctioned posts of seven teachers and 14 coaches. The residential school offers 11 different indoor and outdoor sports, including volleyball, wrestling and swimming for students of Classes 6 to 12. As per the information, the school has only five teachers and seven coaches, while the principal is on deputation from the education department. Officials blame the state government's model, wherein the sports department had no role in running the sports institute. Bathinda DC Rajesh Dhiman said according to a new plan, the sports department will have a direct lead role with its coaches imparting training to students. The DC said it was felt that the existing system to manage the institute needs a change to give the institute a boost by streamlining both sports and academics of the school. The state authorities have agreed in principle, and final modalities are being worked out. An official notification in this regard is expected soon, said Dhiman. "Contractual staff at the institute had filed a case in the high court for job regularisation and they had secured a stay order. We are working to sort out the matter," added the DC. The education department manages the institute and coaches and faculty members are being hired on contract. The school has 300 seats and admission is done after trials of different sporting events. Officiating school principal Narinder Singh said the school has started renovation work as it has got Rs.3 crore from the government and another Rs.2 crore under corporate social responsibility (CSR) for hostel maintenance and sports infrastructure....