CBSE syllabus to be taught in 100 Himachal schools from next session: Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the CBSE curriculum would be introduced in 100 schools in Himachal in the first phase from the next academic session.

Sukhu, while chairing a meeting of the Education Department here, directed the officials concerned to make all preparations in this regard within the prescribed time frame. He said that the schools having CBSE curriculum would have a distinct colour scheme and their students would wear uniform of different colours. These schools would be equipped with smart classrooms and have arrangements for providing nutritious meals to students in the mess on their campuses, he added.

The Education Department officials apprised the Chief Minister that 86 schools in the state that meet the CBSE standards had been identified so far. Sukhu directed the officials to ensure that the remaining schools meet these standards at the earliest.

He said that the state government was committed to providing quality education and there was no paucity of funds for the development of necessary infrastructure. He added that vacant teaching posts in the department were being filled on priority. “It is due to the efforts of the state government that Himachal Pradesh has improved its position from 21st to fifth in the quality of education ranking. The government continues to focus on ensuring quality education, especially for children in rural areas,” he added.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the setting up of Rajiv Gandhi day-boarding schools and instructed the officials to expedite the work on them. He said that these schools should have well-designed campuses with ample space for sports and recreational activities. These schools should serve as milestones in bringing educational reforms in the state, he added.

Sukhu said that efforts were underway to establish state-of-the-art colleges in all districts that would provide students not only with quality education but also access to a range of activities for their holistic development.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Director of Higher Education Amarjeet Sharma and other senior officials of the department attended the meeting.