Rs 9 cr allocated for repair of flood-hit schools in Mandi

Mandi has emerged as the worst-affected region, particularly in the education sector, due to the recent cloudbursts and flashfloods. Education Minister Rohit Thakur, while addressing mediapersons at Sundernagar in Mandi district, announced that Rs 9 crore of the total Rs 16 crore provisioned for the repair of damaged schools in the state would be spent in Mandi district alone.

He said, "As many as 523 educational institutions in the state suffered damage in varying degrees in cloudbursts and flashfloods. Of these, 109 schools were reported to be badly damaged. In Mandi district alone, 300 schools were affected, including 29 institutions that suffered major structural damage. Immediate repair of these schools would be carried out under the first phase of the restoration plan. The Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) would execute the repair work as soon as the monsoon retreats."

The minister detailed the list of heavily damaged schools in the district, including Government Primary Schools at Bhekli, Bhalwar, Ruchar, Nihri Sunah, Shilli Bagi, Sarogi, Kulthani, Majdwar, Khauli, Bagibhanwas, Sumna, Surah, Kuti, Hukal and Kehri; Government Middle School at Bhalwar, Government High Schools at Anah, Dabehad, Helen, Hukal and Kehri and Government Senior Secondary Schools at Bagibhanwas, Lambsafar, Narayangarh, Nihri Sunah, Kufri, Seri Batwara, Khanni and Ahju.

Rohit assured people that the repair work at all damaged institutions would be expedited so that schools could resume normal functioning at the earliest. He added that around 6,000 vacancies in the Education Department had been filled and promotions to the posts of principal, headmaster and postgraduate teacher (PGT) were also in the pipeline.

The minister said that the government was taking significant policy decisions aimed at enhancing educational quality. The decisions included imparting English-medium education from the foundational level, along with the inclusion of emerging and practical subjects like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and horticulture in the school curriculum. There was also focus on promoting local languages to preserve cultural identity alongside global competencies, he added.

He said that Himachal Pradesh’s recent performance in the National Achievement Survey (NAS) had improved. The state, which ranked 21st in 2021, had secured the 5th position. Particularly noteworthy was the performance of Class III students, who surpassed even Kerala, earning the 2nd rank at the national level, he added.

The minister announced that the construction of new schools in disaster-prone areas would be avoided. A special geological and structural survey would be conducted to identify any existing educational institutions in such vulnerable zones. The completely damaged schools would be rebuilt on priority, he added.

Rohit said that it was for the party high command to take the decision for the appointment of the new Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president and expressed hope that an announcement would be made soon.