School buildings worth over Rs 1 crore inaugurated in Mandi

Education Minister Rohit Thakur on Friday inaugurated newly constructed school buildings worth over Rs 1 crore during his visit to Kotmors and Majhwar in the Sadar Assembly constituency of Mandi district.

The minister dedicated a new building at Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Kotmors, constructed at a cost of Rs 71 lakh and another building at GSSS Majhwar, built at a cost of Rs 40 lakh. Addressing a public gathering, he said the state government was taking concrete steps to strengthen educational infrastructure and promote quality education across Himachal.

Rohit Thakur said special priority was being accorded to the education and health sectors, with a clear focus on qualitative improvements in schooling. He said 148 schools in the state had been affiliated with the CBSE and that English-medium instruction had been introduced in government schools to improve academic competitiveness.

Highlighting innovative initiatives, the minister said, for the first time, meritorious students and teachers from government schools were being sent on exposure visits. So far, over 350 teachers had participated in educational tours aimed at broadening their academic outlook.

He said Himachal’s literacy rate had reached 99.33 per cent — the highest in the country — compared to just 7 per cent at the time of the state’s formation and claimed that the state currently ranked ahead of Kerala in reading proficiency. To enhance efficiency and bring quality reforms, the Education Department and the Directorate had been integrated, he added.

During the last three years of the present government’s tenure, around 7,000 regular appointments have been made in the Education Department, while the process to fill another 4,000 posts through the State Selection Commission is underway and will be completed soon, the minister said. He added that nearly 10,000 promotions of teaching and non-teaching staff, including posts up to Deputy Director level, had been cleared after long delays. In a record move, 802 principals were promoted simultaneously — a first in the state.

The minister also reviewed the development of Vallabh Government College, one of the oldest institutions in Himachal and assured that no funds would be allowed to fall short. He said Rs 16.45 crore had been allocated for new buildings, while Rs 45 crore had already been spent on infrastructure development.