Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in Himachal Pradesh, the state government decided on major reforms in its educational system to ensure an overall development of students in school. Speaking at the annual function of Pinegrove School in Dharampur, Solan, he said the government remained concerned about improving the overall output of education.
The state has enhanced the education budget by an astonishing 17% over the previous year for the financial year 2024-25. It seems to be a rather strategic move by the state towards training its students to face the challenges of the future. Notably, the government has introduced English medium education in government schools from the first grade and is establishing Rajiv Gandhi Government Day Boarding Schools in each assembly constituency, enhancing access to quality education.
The most stress was on programs aimed to create environmental awareness in school-going children. For such sustainability and resource conservation the government will install all state day-boarding schools equipped with roof-top grid connected solar power plants along with inbuilt rainwater harvesting systems.
A flagship programme of the government’s education reforms is the Dr. YS Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojana, a well-planned scheme of Rs 200 crore aimed at supporting meritorious students from economically deprived backgrounds. The scheme has been planned to help eligible students’ aspirations for professional courses abroad by providing them with much-needed financial assistance.
To improve literacy and access to resources, the state will open libraries at the Gram Panchayat level, which will be close to 493 in the initial stages. In addition, 850 educational institutions have been transformed into centers of excellence to enhance education standards in the state.
Recognizing the changing pattern in the job market, it is introducing newer fields like Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Machine Learning, and Drone Training besides more technical training in their existing institutions. This endeavor helps to improve employability along with self-employment by the youth in pursuit of market demand.
Employment fairs and campus interviews are being conducted at all educational institutions to help the students get jobs. According to Sukhu, the initiative aims for quality education at the doorstep so that all the youths of Himachal Pradesh can reach their goals.
The Chief Minister appreciated the management of Pinegrove School for its focus on holistic development of students and reassured the state government of their commitment to making the educational environment suitable for learning and all-around development.
