Shimla, September 18: In response to the decline in enrollment in government schools, the Himachal Pradesh government is considering successful education models of Assam, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat. Education Minister Rohit Thakur stressed the need for urgent reform during a meeting with the education department on Tuesday, and called for coordinated efforts to address the declining numbers in government institutions.
The state’s decision comes after enrollment in its government schools has been declining for years. Many parents, especially in rural areas, are opting for private institutions, attracted by the promise of better academic outcomes and infrastructure. Recent research shows that in 2022, the state saw a decline of more than 7% in government school enrollment compared to the previous year, indicating an urgent need for improvement.
Learnings from other states
The states of Assam, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat have managed to stabilize or even increase their government school enrollment through strategic policies. For instance, Assam improved infrastructure in rural schools and ensured quality mid-day meals, while Chhattisgarh focused on teacher training and community participation in education. Gujarat’s success was driven primarily by the integration of technology in classrooms and better school management practices.
The Himachal Pradesh education department will now study these models and identify best practices that can be adopted locally to increase the number of students.
Findings of National Achievement Survey
At the meeting, a presentation by Samagra Shiksha focused on the performance of Himachal’s government school students in the National Achievement Survey (NAS). Over 1.61 lakh students from 13,000 schools took part in the AI-based test, the results of which highlighted areas of concern, especially in mathematics and science.
Education minister Rohit Thakur called for prompt corrective action to enhance the academic performance of students, urging all wings of the department to work together. He stressed that improving only enrolment is not enough; the quality of education must also increase to prevent students from going to private schools.
Strengthening teachers’ accountability
A major issue plaguing Himachal’s government schools is teacher absenteeism, which has been cited as one of the reasons for poor academic outcomes. To tackle this, minister Thakur announced that online attendance system has already been implemented in 11,000 schools and by next month, all 15,000 schools in the state will have biometric attendance of teachers. The measure is aimed at ensuring greater accountability among teachers and improving the quality of classroom teaching.
Additionally, the government plans to introduce online attendance system for students in a phased manner, further strengthening accountability and monitoring of attendance of both teacher and student.
Incentives for teachers and principals
The state also intends to introduce new benchmarks to reward outstanding teachers and principals. These awards will be based on performance metrics, thereby encouraging teachers to improve student outcomes. The minister said it is important to develop a robust assessment framework to motivate teachers and promote a culture of excellence in government schools.
In another significant move, minister Thakur announced that the records of teachers and education officials who have been on deputation to other states for a long time are being reviewed. Notices will be issued to these staff and they will be recalled to serve in Himachal Pradesh as soon as possible. The move is aimed at ensuring that the state’s educational workforce is fully deployed where they are needed the most – in Himachal itself.
Addressing declining enrolment
The issue of declining enrolment in government schools has been worsened by the perception of better quality education in private institutions as well as the lack of resources and infrastructure in the public sector. The education department hopes that by studying successful models of other states and tightening the accountability of teachers, government schools can become more competitive and attract more students.
Research shows that improving the physical infrastructure of schools, enhancing teacher training and integrating technology in classrooms are essential steps to make government schools more attractive to parents. The models of Assam, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat offer valuable lessons in these areas and Himachal’s education department is keen to implement them.
The way forward
Efforts to revive Himachal Pradesh’s government schools come at a crucial time, as private schools dominate in terms of student numbers. By adopting successful strategies from other states and implementing technology-driven solutions such as biometric attendance, the state aims to improve not only enrolment numbers but also the quality of education offered in its government schools.
The coordinated efforts of the education department, along with strict teacher accountability measures and infrastructure upgrades, could pave the way for a brighter future for Himachal’s government education system. However, the real test will be how quickly these changes can be implemented and whether they are effective in reversing the trend of declining enrollment.
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