Congress Govt Shuts Down 1,200 Schools in 2.5 Years; Low-Enrolment Schools to Be Merged: Education Minister

Shimla, May 15
The Himachal Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has shut down around 1,200 schools over the past two and a half years. Of these, nearly 450 were schools with zero student enrolment. Following a key meeting of the state’s Education Department, Education Minister Rohit Thakur stated that several important decisions are being taken to strengthen the education system in the state.

Thakur said that around 100 schools with zero enrolment are likely to be de-notified. As per departmental norms, such schools will either be merged with nearby institutions or downgraded. The government will consider factors such as student strength and the distance between schools while restructuring. Schools with higher student numbers will be upgraded and categorized as separate senior secondary and high schools. Additionally, many institutions will be converted into co-educational models to optimize resources and improve access.

The minister also informed that the state government has identified three key schools for targeted development and reforms. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the quality of education and ensuring that students receive better learning opportunities.

Furthermore, the transfer of teachers will be put on hold until the end of this month, as the government reviews and prepares to introduce a new transfer policy aimed at addressing long-standing challenges within the system.