Himachal Pradesh to get 68 model schools

Adarsh Vidyalayas, or model schools, will be set up in the state's 68 assembly constituencies, Himachal Pradesh's Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said here today.

Ten of these model schools will be opened this year and a provision of Rs 25 crore has been made, he said.

The minister said that the MLAs will be mentors of the schools in their respective constituencies.

Residents, who studied in state-run schools and are working at top posts in government departments will also be roped in to increase enrolment of students.

The government will also connect with retired government employees.

Bhardwaj said his main aim was to improve the quality of education in the state's government schools.

Steps were being taken to bring the syllabus of the HP Education Board-affiliated schools on par with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and to ensure that NCERT textbooks are used, he added.

Bhardwaj also said that the government was seeking legal opinion to bring the fees of private schools under control.

Speaking about the construction of the campus of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Bhardwaj said that most formalities had been completed and the varsity's foundation stone would be laid soon.

He said the government was also filling up 645 vacancies for college faculty through the HP Staff Selection Commission (HPSSC).

He also spoke about the recently launched Jan Manch initiative, a programme aimed at addressing public grievances effectively.

Yesterday, 11 ministers and the assembly speaker organised the Jan Manch meetings in 12 districts and resolved grievances of the people on the spot, he said.

District officials also attended the meetings.

Bhardwaj, along with the state's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Kishan Kapoor, met people at the Dharamsala mini-secretariat today.

The state education minister said that at least one of the four ministers from Kangra would be available at the secretariat every week to meet the public.

The Jan Manch programme was one of the three schemes launched by the Himachal Pradesh government last month to mark the completion of four years of Modi government.