Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced an ambitious roadmap to transform CBSE-affiliated government schools into the state’s leading educational institutions over the next five years.
Speaking at the Foundation Day celebration of Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, the Chief Minister said the government’s priority is to provide quality and equitable education to every child while strengthening public education across the state.
Chief Minister Sukhu said the state government is committed to making CBSE-affiliated government schools among the finest educational institutions in Himachal Pradesh.
The initiative focuses on:
- Improving educational quality.
- Modernising government schools.
- Expanding access to quality learning.
- Creating equal educational opportunities for all students.
He said these reforms are designed to ensure that students in government schools receive education comparable to the best institutions.
As part of the state’s education reforms:
- English-medium education has been introduced from Class I in government schools.
- 156 government schools have been affiliated with CBSE.
According to the Chief Minister, these measures have already delivered encouraging results.
The education reforms have contributed to a rise in admissions to government schools.
The Chief Minister said that:
- More than 24,000 additional students have enrolled in government schools following the implementation of the new initiatives.
The increase reflects growing confidence among parents in the state’s public education system.
Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted the state’s improving performance in national education assessments.
According to him:
- Himachal Pradesh improved from 21st position in national assessments conducted in 2021 to become one of India’s better-performing states.
- In the Performance Grading Index (PGI) of the Ministry of Education, the state climbed seven places to secure 6th position nationally.
The improvements indicate steady progress in educational outcomes and governance.
During the event, the Chief Minister also flagged off the school’s Mountaineering Campaign 2026, which will be conducted in Leh-Ladakh from July 28 to August 8.
A group of students will participate in the expedition to Mount Yalung Nong (6,090 metres), highlighting the importance of adventure, leadership and experiential learning alongside academics.
Addressing students, the Chief Minister encouraged them to focus not only on academic achievement but also on becoming responsible citizens capable of bringing meaningful change to society.
He emphasized that education should help students:
- Develop strong character.
- Build leadership qualities.
- Contribute to society.
- Support nation-building through responsible citizenship.
