State Assembly figures expose shortfall in school infrastructure
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government informed the Assembly that 177 state-run schools are currently operating without their own buildings and are instead being housed in alternative locations such as rest houses, community centres and private premises. The disclosure, made by Education Minister Rohit Thakur, also showed that 1,526 schools have been closed across the state in the last three years.
Mr Thakur presented the figures on the final day of the monsoon session in response to a question from BJP MLA Inder Dutt Lakhanpal. He said the displaced schools are conducting classes in a range of makeshift venues including other government school buildings, Mahila Mandal halls, Panchayat buildings and rented accommodation.
Where students are being taught
Officials said the use of alternative premises is a stop-gap, not a planned arrangement. Twelve of the schools without dedicated buildings were declared unsafe following natural disasters and had to be shifted immediately. One cited example is the Government Senior Secondary School at Kunra in Chamba district, whose original structure was condemned after a disaster; the school now runs from four rooms in a Public Works Department rest house and has 99 students enrolled.
- Alternative venues include rest houses, community centres, Panchayat buildings and private premises.
- Twelve schools were shifted after being declared unsafe following disasters.
- Officials attribute delays in new construction largely to land unavailability or pending acquisition.
Progress on new buildings
The Education Department said construction is underway for 28 new school buildings, and funds have been released for another 14. Work on the remaining sites has not moved forward primarily because land is not available or acquisition processes are pending, the minister reported.
| Item | Number reported |
|---|---|
| Schools operating without their own buildings | 177 |
| Schools closed in last three years | 1,526 |
| Department-owned buildings of closed schools | 1,473 |
| Closed school buildings handed to other bodies | 577 |
| Buildings under construction | 28 |
| Projects with funds released | 14 |
| Schools declared unsafe after disasters | 12 |
Closed schools and reuse of buildings
Of the 1,526 schools closed over the past three years, the department retains ownership of 1,473 of the buildings. According to the minister, 577 of these structures have since been handed over to other departments or community organisations for uses such as Panchayati Raj offices, Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, Anganwadi centres, health and AYUSH services, animal husbandry, environment work and temple committees.
Fifty-three of the closed institutions had previously functioned from private or rented premises, meaning there is no government-owned building associated with those schools. The minister said this complicates efforts to revive or rebuild such institutions.
Implications for students and the education system
Education experts and parents routinely warn that conducting classes in inadequately equipped or scattered locations can harm learning outcomes, undermine safety and discourage attendance—especially in remote areas. Running schools from temporary premises also poses logistical problems for staff deployment, mid-day meal delivery and maintaining regular school hours.
Local administrators have cited land acquisition hurdles and difficulty in identifying suitable sites in hilly terrain as persistent barriers to timely construction. For several schools, the government has initiated the process of acquiring land but has not set firm timelines for completion of new buildings, the minister said.
What the government says next
Mr Thakur told the Assembly that work is in progress where possible and that measures are being taken to regularise functioning and expedite construction when land becomes available. He also outlined the repurposing of surplus buildings as part of attempts to optimise existing infrastructure.
Stakeholders in affected districts said they will press for clearer timelines and closer monitoring of construction projects to ensure displaced schools receive permanent premises at the earliest.
