Shimla: The Education Minister, Rohit Thakur today here presided over a meeting with senior officers of the Education Department to review key issues and accelerate ongoing reforms. He held detailed discussions aimed at improving the quality of education and strengthening institutional facilities across the state.
The Minister said that enhancing educational standards and ensuring access to quality learning opportunities remain the foremost priorities of the present State Government. He said that the government is committed to improve infrastructure, optimize resources and building a strong academic environment in government institutions.
He said that 39 boys’ and girls’ schools have recently been merged and converted into co-educational institutions to promote better utilization of infrastructure and teaching staff. Additionally, 39 schools with zero enrolment would soon be de-notified. He directed that students required to travel more than two kilometres due to these changes must be provided with transit allowance promptly. He also instructed officials to prepare a draft proposal for the merger of non-CBSE schools at the earliest to further streamline the system.
The Minister said that colleges with enrolment below 100 students would also be merged to ensure optimal use of resources and manpower. Teaching and non-teaching staff would be adjusted in other institutions as per requirement. He clarified that these steps would not impact vocational courses, future teacher recruitment, or the service security of existing staff. He said that no employee will lose employment as a result of these reforms.
With regard to sports development, the Minister directed the immediate implementation of Cabinet decisions concerning new and upgraded sports hostels to ensure they become functional without delay and provide improved facilities to aspiring sportspersons. These include a Boys’ Sports Hostel (Volleyball) at Government Senior Secondary School, Chopal (District Shimla), a Girls’ Sports Hostel (Kabaddi) at Government Senior Secondary School, Shillai (District Sirmaur), the introduction of Boxing for Girls at Thakur Ram Lal Girls Sports Hostel, Jubbal (District Shimla), and a Sports Hostel (Handball) at Morsinghi (District Bilaspur). With these additions, the number of sports disciplines supported in hostels has increased to 12, providing significant encouragement to youth excelling in sports.
Rohit Thakur directed that the pending diet funds amounting to Rs. 1.2 crore for sports hostels be released at the earliest, with strict monitoring to ensure transparency and prevent any misuse.
To strengthening academic leadership, the Minister instructed the department to organize induction training programmes for newly promoted principals based on modules prepared by SCERT. He also directed officials to expedite the filling of vacant posts to avoid disruption in academic activities. In addition, he ordered that the lower age limit of 23 years for teacher recruitment be waived and necessary action taken accordingly.
He also reviewed matters related to the joint declaration of Anganwadis and PEP, as well as progress concerning PM SHREE schools in the state. The Minister expressed satisfaction over the hangar airport facility funded by the Education Department for NCC cadets is now fully operational. Earlier, cadets had to travel to Jalandhar airport, but they can now land directly in Kullu airport which has significantly eased the travel and training logistics.
Secretary Education Rakesh Kanwar, Project Director Samagra Shiksha Rajesh Sharma, Director Higher Education Amarjit, Director of School Education Ashish Kohli, and other senior officers of the department were present in the meeting.
