Himachal Education Minister Leads High-Level Delegation to Jammu & Kashmir to Study PM SHRI Schools

Shimla, June 23: A high-level educational delegation from Himachal Pradesh, led by Education Minister Rohit Thakur, has embarked on a five-day study tour to Jammu & Kashmir to examine innovative teaching practices, modern infrastructure, and best educational models being implemented in PM SHRI schools.

The delegation, comprising senior officials from the Education Department and Samagra Shiksha, visited PM SHRI Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Barzulla-Rawalpora in Srinagar. The team interacted with teachers, students, and education officials to understand academic innovations, learning outcomes, and modern facilities available in the institution.

Officials in Jammu & Kashmir highlighted significant improvements in student enrolment since the establishment of PM SHRI schools. The institutions feature advanced science and computer laboratories, digital learning facilities, and Atal Tinkering Labs aimed at fostering scientific temper, creativity, and innovation among students. Special emphasis is also being placed on teacher capacity building through training at premier institutions, including IIT Kanpur.

Rohit Thakur praised the educational infrastructure and innovation-driven learning environment in Jammu & Kashmir’s PM SHRI schools. He noted that Himachal Pradesh has identified 199 PM SHRI schools under the National Education Policy 2020 framework, with a focus on holistic, inclusive, and skill-based education. These schools are being equipped with smart classrooms, digital libraries, science labs, sports facilities, and other modern resources.

The Education Minister said the state government has accorded the highest priority to improving educational quality, citing Himachal Pradesh’s rise from 21st to 5th position in the PARAKH National Survey and its 6th rank in the Performance Grading Index (PGI). He also pointed to improvements recorded in the ASER report as evidence of positive changes in the state’s education sector.

Samagra Shiksha Director Rajesh Sharma said the delegation would study the best practices of PM SHRI schools in Jammu & Kashmir and explore their adaptation to further strengthen Himachal Pradesh’s school education system.