Enrolment ratio in elementary education increases in state

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 15

The state government today claimed that the enrolment ratio in elementary education has almost reached 100 per cent and the state is poised to achieve universal access to secondary education by 2017 as per the target.

According to the state government spokesperson, Himachal has made big strides in education over the years in terms of substantial improvements in the literacy level, universal access and equity through a sound network of educational institutions. The government is providing quality elementary education to all children by recruiting teachers and upgrading schools in the state.

During the last four years, more than 1,010 schools were either opened or upgraded. As many as 4,511 posts of different categories have been created for newly upgraded schools. The number of colleges has reached to 116 in the state after opening 38 new colleges and taking over four colleges and a provision of Rs 5 crore has been made in the budget for each new college, besides creating 117 posts of different categories.

More than 3,500 posts of teacher were filled through fresh appointments alone in the Education Department during the last four years, including 233 posts of Assistant Professors and 2,681 posts of Post Graduate Teachers (PGT). Around 9,517 teaching and non-teaching staff were given promotions, besides regularising 2,609 teachers and non-teaching staff in higher education.

To make learning more entertaining, meritorious students of Classes X and XII are provided laptops under the Rajiv Gandhi Digital Scheme. As many as 10,000 students were provided laptops during 2015-16 by spending 17.03 crore.

The government is providing free travel facility to all students studying in government schools right from Classes I to XII for attending school and back home in Himachal Road Transport Corporation buses. The various scholarship schemes have benefited over 4,14,480 students from all sections of society on which Rs 213.21 crore has been spent.

In order to ensure quality in education, 615 senior secondary schools, 835 high schools, 70 upgraded and five smart schools are imparting education through Information, Communication and Technology Phase-II where computers are the main players.

Under the Mahatma Gandhi Uniform Scheme and Mukhya Mantri Vardi Yojna, as many as 1,78,334 students were benefited. The National Service Scheme (NSS) has been functioning in 716 schools in the state wherein 70,532 students were enrolled last year.

These volunteers have been organising blood donation camps, cleanliness drives and other social activities aimed at generating awareness among masses. Similarly, the Scout and Guide scheme has been implemented in 1,509 schools and 38 colleges in the state.

The state government has announced the Mukhya Mantri Shikhshak Samman Yojna under which the teachers of the state giving cent per cent results in maths, science and English for three consecutive years would get one-year extension in service.