In Himachal Pradesh, 78 schools and 16 colleges with less number of students will be merged. This consensus was reached in 3 departmental meetings held in the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Education Minister Rohit Thakur. The proposal will be sent to the cabinet meeting for final approval. 49 high schools with 20 students and 29 senior secondary schools with 25 students will be merged before the new academic session. 16 degree colleges with 100 students will be closed. In the meeting, a decision was also taken to transfer surplus teachers working in schools and colleges under rationalization.
The number of students in 16 colleges of the state has not been increasing for the last few years. In such a situation, now the government has decided to close the colleges with less number of students. Students studying in the colleges to be closed will be shifted to nearby institutions. Lecturers, non-teachers will be transferred to colleges where there is a need. The number of students in colleges in headquarters and cities is better than the colleges in remote areas. In such a situation, to provide quality education, the government is going to close such colleges where the enrollment of students is not increasing for the last few years and where the number of students is less than 100.
In March 2023, the state government also closed 17 degree and two Sanskrit colleges opened after April 1, 2022 during the BJP government. 19 out of 24 colleges opened in 2022 were denotified. During the departmental meeting, there was also a discussion about the reorganization of the Directorates of Education. However, nothing has been decided in this regard yet. The Education Minister has directed the officials to prepare a detailed report of the entire matter. Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar, Director of Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet Kumar Sharma, Director of Elementary Education Ashish Kohli, Special Director of Samagra Shiksha Project Rajesh Sharma and many other officials were present in the meeting.
These colleges have less number of students
Bhalei college has 49 students, Kupvi has 43 students, Kukumseri has 38 students, Tikkar has 15 students, Shivnagar college has 97 students, Chintpurni has 96 students, Ronhat has 95 students, Haripur Guler has 90 students, Ramshahr has 88 students, Kotli has 85 students, Pajota has 82 students, Nankhadi has 81 students, Sug Bhatoli has 79 students, Thachi has 74 students, Sandhol has 67 students and Jaynagar college has 67 students and Galod college has no students. Tauni Devi and Galod colleges have no students. As such, both these colleges have already been closed.