Focus on Establishing Specialized Colleges in Himachal: CM Issues Directives

Shimla, August 14

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while chairing a high-level meeting of the Education Department here today, directed officials to explore the possibility of setting up specialized colleges in fields such as science, arts, and sports. He emphasized that the state government is committed to providing quality education to students in rural areas, with the goal of ensuring that 100% of children enrolled in primary education progress to higher education.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for rationalizing colleges and subjects, instructing the department to conduct an in-depth study and implement necessary changes from the next academic session. He called for the identification of emerging subjects with strong employment potential and urged the early completion of the college grading process so that staffing and infrastructure requirements can be addressed promptly.

He assured that vacant posts in the Education Department would be filled at the earliest to ensure that students’ learning is not disrupted. He also directed that state-specific content be incorporated into the curriculum, enabling students to develop a deeper understanding of their environment and Himachal’s unique characteristics.

The state is in the process of establishing Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools in every assembly constituency in phases. Construction has begun at eight locations, and a proposal to upgrade 56 existing schools into day-boarding institutions is under consideration. These schools will offer better academic facilities, nutritious meals, sports, yoga, and other extracurricular activities.

The Chief Minister noted that the government’s reform initiatives over the past two and a half years have yielded positive results. According to the ASER 2024 report, there has been a significant improvement in students’ reading skills, while the NAS survey shows that Himachal has jumped from 21st place in 2021 to 5th place nationally.

He further directed the strengthening of infrastructure in educational institutions, along with the introduction of mandatory mock tests and zero periods to ensure the holistic development of students.

The meeting was attended by Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar, Director of Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet Sharma, State Project Director Rajesh Sharma, and other senior officials.