Around 24,000 students who were earlier studying in private schools have enrolled in government schools in Himachal Pradesh during the current academic year, according to the state government. The shift comes after the government introduced the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum in government schools across the state, a move it says is aimed at improving the quality of public education.Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu shared the figures while addressing a public event in Nagrota Bagwan on Monday. He said the students have taken admission in nearly 150 government schools and described the increase in enrolment as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the government school system.
Government plans further changes in school education
The Chief Minister said the state government is implementing a series of reforms in the education sector and expects government schools to undergo significant changes over the next two to four years.He said the adoption of the CBSE curriculum is one of the key steps taken to improve academic standards in government schools. The government has maintained that the curriculum change, along with other reforms, is intended to make public schools more competitive and improve learning outcomes.The state government, however, did not provide a year-on-year comparison of enrolment figures or detailed data explaining the increase in admissions.
Expansion planned for postgraduate medical education
Apart from school education, the government also announced measures to expand medical education in the state.According to the government, around 330 new postgraduate seats have been proposed in government medical colleges across Himachal Pradesh. Of these, 100 seats are planned for Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda.The government said the proposal is aimed at increasing the number of specialist doctors trained in the state and improving the availability of healthcare services.
Medical infrastructure upgrade underway
The Chief Minister said the state is also upgrading medical infrastructure in government hospitals and medical colleges. Advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment is being installed at several institutions, including RPGMC, Tanda.He said Himachal Pradesh has introduced robotic surgery in the government healthcare sector. According to the government, 3 Tesla MRI scanners are being installed in all government medical colleges, with the facilities already operational at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS), Chamiyana.District and regional hospitals are also being equipped with 1.5 Tesla MRI scanners, PET scanners, CT scanners and cancer treatment equipment. The government said outdated medical equipment is being replaced as part of the ongoing upgrade.
Announcements made during Nagrota Bagwan visit
The announcements were made during Sukhu’s visit to Nagrota Bagwan, where he reviewed development works in the region. The government said the initiatives in education and healthcare form part of its broader plan to improve public services across the state.The enrollment figures and reform announcements come at a time when several states are focusing on strengthening government schools and expanding healthcare infrastructure through increased public investment.
