Chandigarh, January 11: In a bid to establish Haryana as a global education hub, the state government, led by Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, is set to implement radical reforms in the education sector. The Chief Minister has directed officers to ensure that quality education is provided across all schools by maintaining the student-teacher ratio as per the National Education Policy. A comprehensive action plan is currently being developed to address the teacher shortage in schools. As a result, from the upcoming academic session, no school in the state will face a shortage of teachers.
The Chief Minister was presiding over a meeting with officers of the Elementary Education, School Education, and Higher Education Departments late Friday evening. Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda also attended the meeting.
Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini directed that a comprehensive plan should be prepared by rationalizing the arrangement of teachers in schools so that if there is a shortage of teachers in any school, it can be met. He emphasized that there is no actual shortage of teachers in Haryana, but rather, the allocation of teachers should be adjusted according to the number of students. He further stressed that all necessary arrangements should be completed before the start of the new academic session.
Public confidence should be instilled to encourage more children to receive education in government schools
The Chief Minister emphasized the need to build public confidence in government schools to encourage more children to enroll and receive education there. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing quality education to every child. In line with the National Education Policy, he said that Bhagavad Gita should be included in the curriculum up to class eighth to instill moral values in students.
To ensure holistic development, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of making sports and cleanliness compulsory in schools. Additionally, he called for enhancing the skills of teachers so they can effectively adopt new teaching methods. He also directed that basic facilities such as drinking water, toilets, and overall cleanliness be maintained in schools and colleges.
Number of Model Sanskriti Schools should be increased at block level
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini stated that the Haryana Government has established Model Sanskriti Schools at the block level, which are affiliated with the CBSE Board. These schools offer education in Mathematics and Science, along with English medium. Due to high demand and competition for admission, he emphasized the need to increase the number of Model Sanskriti Schools at the block level.
All tasks must be completed within the stipulated time frame, and any unnecessary delays will not be tolerated under any circumstances
While reviewing the Chief Minister’s announcements, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini directed that all pending development works be expedited. He emphasized that a specific time limit should be set for each task, and work must be completed within that time frame. He warned that unnecessary delays would not be tolerated under any circumstances. The Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to authorize XEN-level officers from other departments to handle the tendering related processes for the engineering wing of the Education Department. He also stressed that strict action should be taken against contractors who fail to complete their work within the stipulated time.
The Chief Minister said that every child attending school should be monitored to track their future educational path, including which institution they enroll in after completing 12th grade. If any student is studying outside Haryana, their information should also be recorded to ensure that no child in the state is deprived of their fundamental right to education.
The Chief Minister further emphasized that the goal of the present state government is to make Haryana a global center for education. In the age of AI, significant changes must be made to modernize education. He urged all officers and employees to take their responsibilities seriously and be well-prepared with all relevant information when attending meetings. The Chief Minister also stressed that all officers and employees should improve their work systems, as any negligence at any level would not be tolerated.
A framework should be developed for conducting competitive exam preparation through smart classrooms in colleges, which will greatly benefit children from rural areas
While reviewing the Higher Education Department, the Chief Minister directed officials to submit a report on the facilities, including infrastructure, in every college, so that any deficiencies can be addressed promptly. He also emphasized the need to develop a framework for arranging competitive exam preparation through smart classrooms in colleges, ensuring that children from rural areas have access to better resources for their exam preparations.
The Chief Minister directed that buildings of the colleges which are under construction should be completed as soon as possible. He also emphasized the need to ensure that students do not face any difficulties in classes held in temporary buildings until the new ones are finished. Additionally, he instructed that solar panels should be installed on college buildings. Every college should have a boundary wall, along with proper water and toilet facilities. Furthermore, continuous arrangements should be made for the repair and maintenance of buildings as required.
A large reading room to be set up in Panchkula
The Chief Minister stated that the present state government is committed to setting up reading rooms in cities to provide quality reading material to students. As part of this initiative, a large reading room should be established in Panchkula on a priority basis, ensuring that students from Panchkula do not need to travel to Chandigarh. He also mentioned that, given the government’s effort to establish a college every 20 kilometers, a reading room should be set up in each college. These reading rooms will remain open even after college hours, allowing students to visit and study.
Complete goals within the stipulated time period to fully implement the National Education Policy – Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda
In the meeting, Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda directed officers to ensure that both short-term and long-term goals for the full implementation of the National Education Policy are completed within the stipulated time period. He emphasized that special attention should be given to the distribution of reading materials in schools. According to the new policy, he also highlighted the importance of making special efforts to teach foreign languages in schools. This will enable students to become proficient in foreign languages alongside their mother tongue, enhancing their chances of securing employment opportunities at the global level.
Streamline the working system on time; strict action will be taken for any deficiencies – Mahipal Dhanda
The Education Minister, Sh. Mahipal Dhanda, directed that teachers who have been posted at the same position in field offices for extended periods should be instructed to go to schools and teach students. He emphasized the need for officers to correct their working systems promptly and ensure that schemes are implemented effectively at the ground level. He warned that if any deficiencies are identified during the next review meeting, strict action will be taken against the concerned individuals.
Sh. Mahipal Dhanda also mentioned his visit to Sarthak School in Sector 12, Panchkula, where he reviewed the arrangements. He stated that every school should strive to become an ideal school like Sarthak School. He emphasized the importance of transforming the education system to improve the quality of schools, so parents are encouraged to send their children to government schools. The Minister further instructed that all arrangements should be in place before the new academic session to avoid any issues in schools.
It was informed in the meeting that the norms of the National Education Policy have been fully implemented up to class 3, and the policy will be fully implemented up to class 7 by this year. Changes have been made to the curriculum in accordance with the education policy, and textbooks aligned with the new curriculum will be provided in this academic session. Furthermore, a plan is underway to sign a MoU with the French Embassy to teach French, allowing students to learn foreign languages in schools.
It was also informed that smart classrooms have been established in 22 colleges to promote digital education, and 83 labs have been set up in 48 government colleges. The concept of multidisciplinary teaching has been implemented in line with the new National Education Policy.
Chief Secretary Dr Vivek Joshi, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary of Higher Education Department Sh Vineet Garg, Principal Secretary of School Education Department Sh Pankaj Agarwal, Deputy Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh Yashpal Yadav, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
