Himachal Pradesh Government to Merge Schools with Low Enrollment

Shimla, July 25, 2024 – After prolonged deliberations on the declining enrollment in government primary schools, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s government has decided to merge primary and middle schools with very low enrollment located within a distance of 3 km. This decision was taken during a cabinet meeting presided over by the CM, following a significant drop in enrollments from 1,30,466 in 2002-2003 to 49,295 in 2023-24.

Key Decisions:

• School Mergers: Nearly 701 primary schools with fewer than five students, of which 287 were within a 2 km radius of another school, will be merged. Additionally, 109 schools had only five students, and 46 middle schools were within a 3 km radius.
• School Closures: 89 primary and 10 middle schools with zero enrollment will be closed. Teaching staff in these schools will be transferred annually at the end of the academic session.
• Morning Assemblies and Physical Education: All schools will hold morning assemblies with the national anthem, and high and senior secondary schools will unfurl the national flag daily. Physical education will be a compulsory daily period, and training in CPR and first-aid will be provided in collaboration with the health and AYUSH departments.

Additional Cabinet Decisions:

• New Police District: The creation of the Dehra police district with its headquarters at Dehra was approved, along with the creation and filling of 39 posts in various categories. Dadasiba and Majheen police posts will be upgraded to stations, with 17 posts created to make them fully functional.
• Market Intervention Scheme: The procurement of apple, kinnow, malta, orange, and mango under the Market Intervention Scheme at ₹12 per kg was approved, with the rate for galgal set at ₹10 per kg.
• Other Approvals: The creation of an SDPO office at Dharampur in Mandi district, with five posts, and additional posts for SDPO offices at Chuwari and Indora, Sihunta, and Bhoranj police stations were sanctioned. Posts for work inspectors in the Jal Shakti Vibhag, junior technicians in the public works department, and 21 civil judges were also green-lit.

The assembly’s monsoon session will be convened from August 27 to September 9 at Shimla, with 10 sittings scheduled.

For more updates on this developing story, visit Sarhind Times.