HP govt to consider opening summer-closing schools: Rohit Thakur

During a Vidhan Sabha session on Wednesday, Education Minister Rohit Thakur stated that the Himachal Pradesh government would evaluate the possibility of reopening summer-closing schools that had shut down due to low enrolment, based on their requirements. Thakur also mentioned that there are 455 schools in the state without a teacher, and 3,145 schools have only one teacher, causing a decline in the quality of education, which has led to the state slipping to 11th place in education. The minister took a swipe at the previous BJP government by pointing out that only two colleges were established during their four-year tenure, while two dozen colleges were established in the past six months, and thousands of teacher positions remain vacant.

BJP MLA Randhir Sharma discussed the difficulties faced by certain villages that are not connected by road and the increasing trend of drug abuse, which makes parents hesitant to send their children to school. He emphasized the need to establish schools closer to these communities. Sharma also mentioned that Sarkaghat College, which has only forty students, has been de-notified.

BJP MLA Jeet Ram Katwal demanded that the de-notified schools should be reopened. Earlier this month, the education minister announced that 286 primary and middle schools with zero enrolment would be de-notified, and the teaching and non-teaching staff of these schools would be transferred to schools with a staff shortage. The focus now will be on providing quality education to students in the state.