De-notified schools meeting criterion of required student-strength will be reviewed: HP education minister

Himachal Education Minister Rohit Thakur on Tuesday said that the state government will review and consider re-opening of certain de-notified schools that meet the criterion of required student-strength.

In a press statement issued here, Rohit Thakur said that the education department has fixed the strength of students for middle, high, and senior secondary schools as 15, 20 and 25 students, respectively. The cut-off date for enrollment of students was March 31, 2023, for winter closing schools and April 15, 2023, for summer closing schools. He said that the state government had taken the decision to de-notify the schools based on the ibid criteria, but it has come to the notice of the government that some schools now meet the required student-strength, and therefore it has been decided to review and take the appropriate decision to re-open such schools.

Rohit Thakur said that the state government is committed to providing quality education to the students of the state nearer to their homes, especially in the remote and far-flung areas. Despite financial challenges, the state government has decided to fill about 6,000 posts of various categories of teachers in the education department to address the shortage of teaching staff, he added.

Story continues below this ad

The education minister said that the state government has also decided to open one Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Model School in every assembly segment of the state in a phased manner.

He said that 13 sites have already been identified and construction activities will commence shortly for the first phase. These schools will be equipped with modern facilities like hi-tech smart classrooms, play fields, etc.