UP Sainik School Lucknow appoints first woman principal in 65 years

Lucknow: The Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey Uttar Pradesh Sainik School has named Colonel Seema Mishra as its new principal, marking the first time a woman has been appointed to lead the 65-year-old institution. The announcement was confirmed by officials from the state education department on Thursday.

Col Mishra’s two-year deputation was cleared after the Sainik School Society under the Ministry of Defence issued an approval letter on October 30. The Uttar Pradesh government completed the formalities and released the appointment order on December 3 through additional chief secretary (Basic and Secondary Education) Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma.

An officer from the Army Educational Corps (AEC), Col Mishra will succeed Colonel Rajesh Raghav, who has been heading the school since January 2021.

The Lucknow-based Sainik School has a pioneering history in women’s admission, becoming the first in the country to open its doors to girl cadets in 2018, starting with a batch of 15 students.

Commissioned into the Army Educational Corps in 2003, Col Mishra brings more than 22 years of experience to her new role. She holds a Master’s degree in Mathematics along with BEd and MPhil qualifications in Education.

She is also the widow of Major Nitesh Roy, who was martyred during deployment in Afghanistan in 2010 and honoured posthumously with the Shaurya Chakra.

(with inputs from agencies)