SCERT and DIETs to be restructured for strengthening quality education: CM

While presiding over a meeting of the Education Department here today, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that surplus Mid-Day-Meal workers, resulting from merger of schools, would be adjusted suitably in the nearby schools and their services would not be terminated.  He said that the State Government was revolutionizing the current education system with numerous initiatives and the merger of schools is one of the key initiatives aiming to provide quality education in the government educational institutions.

Sh. Sukhu said that to improve the functioning of State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and  District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs),  the State Government would re-structure both the organizations. This measure is intended to strengthen the quality education and training to the students across the State. He said that the wrong policies of the previous BJP Government had led to decline in Himachal Pradesh's ranking to 21^st place nationally in terms of quality education and the current State Government is working meticulously to offer quality education in the government educational institutions.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government has introduced foreign exposure visits to the teachers, enabling them to adopt best teaching practices, ultimately benefiting the students. He said that the State Government would also send meritorious students who excel in academics, sports and other fields to such visits, so that they could get gainful from these visits.

He said that the State Government is also making earnest efforts to improve the sports infrastructure in the educational institutions. He said that students from 6 to 14 years will participate in under 14-Tournaments and in under-14 tournament separate sports events will be held for students in 6 to 11 years age group to provide an apt platform for the students of primary schools. He said that to promote sports activities and support athletes, the State Government has increased the diet money for the sports persons. The allowance has been raised from Rs. 240 to Rs. 400 for State level championship, Rs. 300 for district level and Rs. 240 for block level events. For sports persons competing outside the State, diet money has been enhanced to Rs. 500. Moreover, the State Government has also enhanced travel facility for the sports persons attending outside the State events.  

The Chief Minister said that the State Government was promoting sports activities in educational institutions to ensure holistic development of the students and keep them away from drug abuse. He said that sports are an important part of life as they keep individuals mentally and physically fit. He said that the Government had already issued instructions to dedicate at least 15 minutes each day for physical exercise in all the schools.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Secretary Education Rakesh Kanwar and other senior officers also attended the meeting.