SHIMLA, 25.04.25-The recent allegations made by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur about closure of schools were as hollow as the BJP’s promises during its own tenure. These claims were to just their desperate attempt to mislead the public and divert attention from the serious failures of the previous BJP regime in the education sector. If anyone should be questioned about education, it is the BJP, which left behind a crumbling system, not the Congress government that was rebuilding it with strong commitment and vision.

When the Congress government assumed office, the education system in Himachal Pradesh was in a pitiable condition. Over 3,600 schools had only one teacher, while 350 schools were functioning without teacher schools. Nearly 15000 posts were vacant and 90 percent of college principals were vacant. The BJP government had reduced education to a mere election gimmick, opening hundreds of schools without ensuring infrastructure, teachers or students. As a result, Himachal Pradesh’s national ranking in education nosedived to 21st place which was a shameful reflection of the BJP’s negligence.

In contrast, the Congress government undertook immediate reforms. We have sanctioned 15000 posts of teachers of which more than 5500 have been given appointments. Already in Elementary department 3,900 teachers have been appointed and another 3100 would soon be filled through Rajyan Chayan Aayog. To strengthen early childhood education, 6200 NTT teachers were being appointed on an outsourced basis. We have broken the stagnation that existed for years under BJP rule by promoting Principals of both college and school cadre of which services of more than 2000 officiating principals were being also regularized and Deputy Directors too have been appointed which was not done during previous government. College education, too, has been revived with the appointment of 483 assistant professors and 119 principals college cadre have been promoted and recruited through direct selection. Apart from this, 700 lecturers were appointed in schools over the past two years by our government, compared to only 511 recruited during the entire five-year tenure of the BJP government.

The results of these reforms were visible. Himachal Pradesh has made a remarkable jump from 21^st to First place in reading and learning level place in national education rankings. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) released in January 2025, Himachal’s students have the best reading skills in the country. In most parameters of this survey, the state emerged as a national leader in school education. A sample survey at the state level has also shown considerable improvement in student's learning levels. These outcomes were a direct result of the Congress government’s consistent efforts to deliver on its promises.

While the BJP focused on showpiece schools that existed only on paper, the Congress government was focused on building institutions that actually work. The decision to close 1,200 non-functional schools most with zero enrolments was taken in the larger interest of quality education and optimal resource utilization. Even most BJP-ruled states and specially Gujarat which was the pioneer state in consolidation of schools have closed over 6,000 such schools, yet the Opposition chooses to remain conveniently silent on that.

The Congress government was also leading the way in policy innovations. We fulfilled our electoral promise of starting English-medium education from Class 1, something the BJP never dared to attempt. We are establishing Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools in every Assembly constituency, bringing world-class facilities to students across Himachal Pradesh and the work has already begun in many places. Financial and academic support schemes like Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana and Dr. Y.S. Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojana were empowering students from vulnerable backgrounds to continue their education without obstacles.

We have taken steps to raise the standards of teaching as well. Exposure visits for 270 teachers to Singapore and Cambodia and for another 200 to Kerala and other Indian states, have allowed them to learn best practices from across the globe. These initiatives were even praised by the Central Government an acknowledgment that speaks for itself.

Recently, our government has signed a MoU with UNESCO to enhance the quality of education in Himachal Pradesh. This collaboration will modernize teaching methods, curricula, and assessments, promote 21^st -century skills, and focus on inclusive and future-ready education. It also emphasizes 'Greening Education' by integrating sustainability into school learning and encourages value-based education through sports for holistic student development.

The Congress government also believes that healthy students were better learners. Under the Bal Poshtik Aahar Yojana, 5.34 lakh children studying in 15,181 schools were being provided with additional nutrition like boiled eggs and fruits. The state has allocated Rs. 12.75 crore for this initiative. We have addressed past irregularities in uniform distribution through the launch of the DBT scheme for smart dresses. Moreover, State Award Scheme has been started to reward teachers for their outstanding contributions, and allowances for sports students have been enhanced to encourage holistic development.

To bring more efficiency into the system, the Directorate of Elementary Education has been restructured and renamed as the Directorate of School Education. This new body would oversee all educational matters from (pre-primary) to Class 12. It would ensure a unified and coordinated approach to education. Apart from this, we have introduced cluster schools to promote sharing of resources and encourage holistic learning through collaborative activities.

Unlike the BJP, which turned schools into empty shells, the Congress government was building a system that truly serves students. While the Opposition continues to indulge in petty politics and baseless allegations, the Congress government’s actions speak louder. We were not only correcting the course of the past but were laying a strong foundation for the future.

He said that the people of Himachal Pradesh can see the difference. While the BJP was stuck in empty rhetoric, the Congress government was busy delivering results.