Teaching skills take a backseat as venue costs spark debate

The Education Department is set to launch special mandatory training for 11,081 elementary and secondary school teachers from October 3 onwards to enhance their teaching skills. The month-long programme, being conducted under the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) framework in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, will run till November 1. According to official sources, government school teachers from Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Una, Kullu, Solan and Sirmaur districts have been selected for the training. Sessions will be held from 9 am to 5 pm on all government working days. The department will provide Travelling and Daily Allowances (TA/DA) to all participants.

Inquiries by The Tribune reveal that the Education Department has hired 31 private properties — including hotels, guest houses, banquet halls and marriage palaces — in 10 districts to conduct the training. Only two venues, at Shilai in Sirmaur and Pangi in Chamba, were yet to be finalised as of September 30, when the department issued its official circular to deputy directors.

The decision has triggered criticism in academic circles. With the state already under severe financial strain following this year’s monsoon disaster, many are questioning why the department chose to spend lakhs of rupees on private venues instead of using government rest houses, circuit houses or hotels owned by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.

Some school lecturers, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern over the “unnecessary extravagance” and alleged that the move raises questions about the intent of the authorities. Despite repeated attempts, Director of Education Dr Amarjeet Sharma could not be reached for comment.

The training initiative, though aimed at improving teaching standards, now finds itself clouded by controversy over the state’s choice of venues and the additional financial burden on public funds.