2,800 posts in Elementary Education Dept to be filled

A total of 2,800 posts will be filled in the state’s Department of Elementary Education to overcome the shortage of teachers, Education Minister Rohit Thakur said today.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 68th district-level under-19 (students) category competition at PM Shri Government Senior Secondary School, Kupvi, the Education Minister said during its one-and-a-half-year tenure, the state government had taken important steps to strengthen the education sector.

According to the National Assessment Survey, the state ranked 21st in the field of education and necessary steps would be taken to improve the standing, he added.

The minister said to fill 131 posts of principal vacant in colleges, 80 principals were appointed on the basis of promotion and 20 were recruited directly. He said 700 posts of PGTs were being filled in the state and postings would be soon made in the far-flung areas. At the same time, 6,200 NTTs would also be recruited, he added.

The Education Minister said under an important initiative of the state government, like teachers, students would be sent abroad on exposure visits.

Stating that Himachal was progressing in the field of education, the minister said, “There are 131 colleges and about 16,000 schools. The state government is committed to strengthening these institutions.”

Rohit Thakur said the state government had started the cluster school system under which schools located geographically close to each other had been put in one group with the aim to improving educational standards.

He said a budgetary provision would be made in the next financial year for the construction of an auditorium and a multipurpose hall in Kupvi school. He also announced Rs 15 lakh for the construction of a playground, as per the demand of locals.

The Theog Zone was adjudged overall champion at the 68th District Level Under-19 (Students) Category Competition. As many as 769 students from 15 zones of Shimla district participated in the competition.