Himachal sees boost in education quality: Minister Thakur

The quality of education in Himachal Pradesh has seen a remarkable rise under the current Congress government, which is completing three years in office, said Education Minister Rohit Thakur on Friday. Speaking to the media in Shimla, Thakur highlighted the government’s achievements across departments despite challenging circumstances.

“In the education sector alone, over 7,000 regular appointments have been made, ranging from JBT teachers to college principals, with thousands more set to join soon,” he said. Thakur noted that schools without teachers have fallen sharply from 350 in 2022 to under 100, while single-teacher schools have decreased from 3,600 to around 2,000. He also announced that Himachal has achieved full literacy status, despite suffering heavy losses from recent natural disasters.

Criticizing the Centre, he said, “The central government has not provided substantial assistance for disaster relief in the state.”

On the issue of Panchayat elections, Thakur clarified that the postponement was purely administrative. “There is no intention to avoid elections. Allegations by the BJP are politically motivated. Elections will be held once the situation normalises,” he added.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu echoed Thakur, denying claims that elections were being delayed deliberately. He attributed the postponement to severe natural disasters that have disrupted road connectivity to panchayats, making election preparations difficult. “Our priority is relief for the disaster-affected people. Elections will be held as soon as all roads are restored,” Sukhu said.

The Chief Minister also accused the BJP of politicizing the situation. “The opposition has made it their policy to oppose everything and divert attention. When the 2023 disaster struck, they demanded an assembly session and walked out during discussions. This year’s calamity is even more severe, and our focus remains on recovery,” he added.

With strengthened recruitment and improved literacy, the state government claims education in Himachal is on a positive trajectory while disaster management and recovery efforts continue.