SHIMLA, 13.08.25-While presiding over a meeting of the Education Department here today, the Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed to explore the possibility of introducing specialized colleges such as Science Colleges, Arts Colleges, Sports Colleges in the state. He said that the State Government was committed to provide quality education to the students, even those who are residing in rural areas. He said that the Education department must set a target that hundred percent of children enrolling for primary education shall complete their higher education.

He also emphasised on the rationalization of colleges and rationalization of streams, and directed the department to conduct a study in this regard so that from the next session necessary changes could be done accordingly. He said that the department shall identify the new subjects which have better scope of employment in the near future. He also directed to complete the grading of colleges so that necessary staff positions could be filled and other infrastructural requirements could be met.

The Chief Minister said that the state government would soon fill up the vacant posts in the education department to ensure that the study was not affected. He also directed the department to include state specific contents in the school curriculum so that the students become well informed of their surroundings and the state.

Sh. Sukhu said that the government was opening Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools in each assembly constituency in a phased manner and the construction had begun at eight sites in the state. He said that the government was also considering the proposal of upgrading the 56 existing schools into Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools and they would offer better facilities to the students by ramping up the infrastructure and offer nutritional diet, sports, yoga and other activities in these educational institutions besides better academic facilities.

The Chief Minister also said that positive outcomes are attributed to the reforms undertaken during the last two and a half years. As per the ASER 2024 Report, the reading skills of the students has improved significantly and according to the NAS survey, the State has taken a leap forward and secured 5^th position in the country, whereas in the year 2021, the state was ranked 21^st.

He also directed to ensure quality education along with the modern infrastructure in the educational institutions. He also asked to conduct mandatory mock tests and a zero period in the institutions for ensuring holistic development of the students.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Secretary Education Rakesh Kanwar, Director Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet Sharma and State Project Director Rajesh Sharma were also present in the meeting among others.

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