Chandigarh, 13 October 2025: The Chief Secretary, UT Chandigarh, 
Shri H. Rajesh Prasad, IAS, chaired a review meeting of the School Education Department to assess key performance indicators, policy implementation, and ongoing educational reforms. The Secretary (Education), Ms. Prerna Puri, IAS and Director School Education, Shri Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, IAS gave a detailed presentation highlighting progress made in literacy, infrastructure, innovation and the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The Chief Secretary comprehensively reviewed the department’s efforts toward strengthening school infrastructure and improving governance systems. The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects andwith special emphasis on effective monitoring of learning outcomes.

During the review, the Chief Secretary expressed concern over the low enrolment of girl students in schools and directed the department to intensify community outreach and awareness campaigns to ensure equitable participation of girls in education. He emphasized the need to expedite the filling up of vacant posts of teachers to maintain teaching continuity and quality learning. He further stressed the importance of continuous evaluation of learning outcomes through Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Achievement (FLA) assessments and significantly improving performance in the National Achievement Survey (NAS). He instructed that continuous monitoring be undertaken to ensure better learning outcomes and suggested exploring innovative measures to enhance the quality of education.

The Chief Secretary also directed that Holistic Performance Cards (HPC) for all students to be introduced and monitored. Laying stress on teacher training he directed 100% completion of mandated training programs to enhance instructional quality and that the modules of VidyaSamiksha Kendra be implemented effectively, especially for tracking out-of-school children and assessing education imparted to students with special needs.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the department’s recent inclusive initiatives – the UDAAN Project (free coaching to meritorious students from government schools), the Adopt-A-School Mentorship Programme and the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP). He directed the department to explore the possibility of including a Dome Theatre-cum-Planetarium in all schools,where feasible to promote experiential learning.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to make continued efforts to make Chandigarh a model education hub. Ongoing projects include establishing a Sainik School and a Health Education Centre at Government Model High School-22 in collaboration with Rotary International to be expedited.

Concluding the meeting, the Chief Secretary reiterated the administration’s resolve to ensure that every child in Chandigarh receives quality education in an inclusive environment, with special emphasis on quality of teaching and monitoring of learning outcomes.