Govt to continue introducing CBSE curriculum in state: Himachal Education Minister Rohit Thakur

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 3 : Himachal Pradesh Education Minister Rohit Thakur on Friday said the state government is moving ahead with the implementation of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum in identified government schools, asserting that the teacher selection process has reached its final stage and the initiative will significantly improve the quality of education in government institutions.
He also outlined the government's preparedness for the ongoing monsoon season, measures to safeguard school infrastructure, and arrangements for the upcoming apple season.
He further said that the CBSE Initiative Aimed at bridging the gap between government and private schools.
Speaking on the government's flagship education reforms, Thakur said nearly 150 government schools across the state had been identified for transition to the CBSE system following Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's announcement during the Independence Day celebrations last year.
"The curriculum of both the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education and CBSE broadly follows the National Curriculum Framework. However, one of the major reasons behind introducing CBSE in selected government schools was to bridge the quality perception gap between government and private schools.The response from parents has been extremely encouraging," the minister said.
According to Thakur, around 16,000 additional student admissions have already been recorded in the selected government schools.
He said there would be a Transparent Teacher Recruitment Through Merit-Based Selection.
On teacher recruitment, the minister said the government decided to ensure appointments strictly on merit after assessing the staffing requirements for the CBSE schools. Serving principals, Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs), Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) and other eligible staff were invited to appear for a written examination.
"Nearly 2,000 teachers applied for the examination, following which shortlisted candidates were identified on the basis of merit. The recruitment process also faced legal challenges and remained pending before the High Court for almost five months. However, the court upheld the government's policy, allowing us to proceed," Thakur said.
He said the issue was recently discussed by a Cabinet Sub-Committee, following which a committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and comprising senior ministers was constituted to examine the final implementation process.
"Most of the selection process has already been completed. Around 138 principals have voluntarily submitted their station preferences. Only a few schools remain where preferences could not be accommodated. The Education Department's clear stand is that the selected candidates should now be given postings so that the CBSE initiative can begin on the ground without further delay," Thakur said.
The minister said the government was committed to implementing the initiative at the earliest so that students in government schools could benefit from the CBSE system. He added that issues relating to textbooks and other operational arrangements would be addressed once the postings are completed.
"Our objective is to ensure that students studying in government schools receive the benefits of quality education under the CBSE system at the earliest. Once postings are made, remaining issues such as textbooks and operational arrangements will also be resolved," he said.
Responding to a question on teacher transfers, Thakur acknowledged that political interference in transfers has remained a long-standing issue in Himachal Pradesh under successive governments.
"I have consistently advocated a transparent transfer policy. A committee will also have to examine this issue. However, as far as the CBSE appointments are concerned, the committee felt that it is neither practical nor legally advisable to reverse the process at this stage," he said.