Education minister warns of school closures amid drop in student enrollment in Himachal Pradesh
Shimla, August 29: Education Minister Rohit Thakur has expressed concern over the drop in enrollment in government schools in Himachal Pradesh, warning that if the current trend continues, many schools may soon have to be closed. Despite the rapid expansion of educational institutions in the state in the last few years, he said no government has managed to remain in power continuously.
Speaking during Question Hour in the state assembly, Thakur highlighted the worrying drop in the state’s education rankings, as reflected in the 2021 National Achievement Survey (NAS). Himachal Pradesh, which once ranked third in the country in the field of education, has now slipped to the 18th position. The minister cited several reports that show that many students, especially those of Class VIII, are struggling to read even at the Class III level.
Declining enrollment at all levels
Thakur pointed out that student enrollment has come down significantly in the last two decades. Around 5.90 lakh children were enrolled in Classes 1 to 5 in 2003. However, this number has now dropped to just 2.99 lakh. Similarly, enrollment in secondary schools (Classes 6 to 8) has dropped from 3.81 lakh to 2.05 lakh in the same period. Enrollment has also declined in high schools and higher secondary schools (Classes 9 to 12), where enrollment numbers have fallen from 1.84 lakh in 2003 to 1.36 lakh today.
The minister stressed that this trend of declining student numbers is a serious concern that needs immediate attention. He warned that if the situation does not improve, many government schools may be forced to close down due to lack of students. In some schools, the number of teachers now exceeds the number of students, making the problem even more severe.
Previous governments’ focus on expansion of institutions
Thakur also reflected on the policies of previous governments, saying both the Congress government (2012-2017) and the Jairam Thakur-led BJP government (2017-2022) gave priority to opening new schools and colleges across the state. However, he stressed that the focus now should shift from expansion to strengthening existing institutions to ensure quality education.
The minister mentioned that the incumbent government has already taken steps to address the issue by merging 419 schools with less than five students and closing 99 schools with zero enrolment. He cited BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who in 2021 had expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of new educational institutions in his Mandi Sadar area. However, the situation has now become such that maintaining existing schools has become a challenge.
In view of the current situation, Thakur called for strategic reforms in the education sector, which should focus on enhancing the quality of education and making schools more attractive to students and parents. He stressed the need for concerted efforts to reverse the trend of declining enrollment and improve the state’s position in the national education rankings.
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