Garhwal Post Bureau
Srinagar (Garhwal)/Dehradun, 4 Jun: Units of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), and Scouts & Guides will be established in all schools across the state to ensure that every student gets an opportunity to participate in these activities and receive training. Directions have also been issued to departmental officials to reduce school dropout rates, expand access to digital education, and maximise the benefits of the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for students. Officials have further been instructed to ensure the availability of essential infrastructure and facilities in schools.
Uttarakhand School Education Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat chaired a review meeting of the School Education Department in Srinagar (Garhwal) today. During the meeting, he directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan aimed at bringing dropout rates at both primary and secondary levels down to zero.
Dr Rawat stated that extensive efforts should be made to make school education in the state more qualitative and student-centric. He emphasised strengthening basic infrastructure in schools while introducing innovative programmes for the holistic development of students. He noted that the state government is providing free textbooks, notebooks, uniforms, shoes, bicycles and other educational support to ensure that no child’s education is affected due to financial constraints.
The Education Minister instructed officials to establish NCC, NSS and Scouts & Guides units in all schools and ensure maximum student participation. He said that these activities would help develop discipline, leadership qualities, social responsibility and a spirit of national service among students.
Dr Rawat also directed officials to undertake extensive publicity and awareness campaigns for the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme so that all eligible students can avail themselves of its benefits. He further instructed officials to expedite the upgradation of schools based on student enrolment, prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the construction of schools identified under the D-category, complete block-wise rationalisation of schools, and accelerate pending teacher promotion processes.
During the meeting, the Minister reviewed the progress of Atal Utkrisht Schools, cluster schools, distribution of free textbooks, infrastructure development, and ongoing construction projects. Reviewing the functioning of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), he stressed the need to provide adequate resources to training institutions and make teacher training programmes more effective.
Dr Rawat also directed officials to ensure the availability and quality of all essential facilities in schools, including furniture, electricity, drinking water, toilets and computer laboratories, so that students are provided with a better learning environment.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Secretary (School Education) AK Shukla, Additional Director (School Education) KS Rawat, Additional Director (Secondary Education) Parmendra Kumar, Under Secretary Vikas Srivastava, all Chief Education Officers of Garhwal Division, principals of all DIETs, and other departmental officials.
