Stone laid for Rs17-cr educational mgmt, training institute in Jubbal

Education Minister Rohit Thakur on Friday laid the foundation stone of the State Institute of Educational Management and Training (SIEMAT) at Jubbal in Shimla district. The autonomous institute, to be constructed at a cost of over Rs 17 crore, is envisioned as a pivotal centre for educational planning, management, research, training and evaluation in Himachal Pradesh.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said tendering for construction has already been completed and work will begin shortly. Once completed, the institute will play a key role in strengthening educational policy frameworks, developing leadership and management skills among educational administrators, promoting evidence-based research and building capacity in the education sector.

Rohit Thakur highlighted that the state government had taken several landmark steps to enhance access to quality education. Thousands of teaching and non-teaching positions across various categories have been filled under the current government to address human resource gaps in the education sector.

He further said in a unique initiative, meritorious students from Himachal Pradesh have been given the opportunity to study and learn from international education models in countries such as Singapore and Cambodia. This exposure aims to enrich their academic understanding and broaden their global outlook.

The minister also shared his recent experience of visiting Leh and Ladakh, where he met noted environmentalist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk. The visit, he said, was an effort to explore innovative educational practices that can be adapted and implemented in Himachal’s unique socio-geographic context.

The establishment of SIEMAT is expected to serve as a think tank and resource centre for improving educational outcomes in the state and fostering innovation in academic governance and pedagogy.