The Himachal Pradesh government has announced the upgradation of six government senior secondary schools into Rajiv Gandhi Government Model Day‑Boarding Schools, aiming to boost educational infrastructure and provide modern learning facilities to students in rural and remote areas of the state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday.
Which schools will be upgraded
The selected schools include institutions across Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Una districts. They will receive upgrades intended to bring government schools closer to the facilities offered by private institutions.
| School | Town / Block | District | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Senior Secondary School, Karsog | Karsog | Mandi | CBSE |
| Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Rampur Bushahr | Rampur Bushahr | Shimla | CBSE |
| Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Rohru | Rohru | Shimla | HPBOSE |
| Government Senior Secondary School, Chopal | Chopal | Shimla | CBSE |
| Government Senior Secondary School, Nauradhar | Nauradhar | Sirmaur | CBSE |
| Government Senior Secondary School, Behdala | Behdala | Una | HPBOSE |
Planned facilities and aims
According to the state administration, the model schools will be equipped with high‑tech smart classrooms, sports grounds, indoor stadiums, facilities for nutritious meals and swimming pools. The initiative is presented as a measure to strengthen learning outcomes and broaden access for students who currently travel long distances or attend private schools because of a lack of facilities in government institutions.
"Education and health remain among the top priorities of the state government," Sukhu said, adding that the initiatives had begun showing results.
The Chief Minister cited a comparative improvement in the state’s standing in quality education: from being placed at 21st in a 2021 Central Government survey to an asserted fifth position more recently. He also highlighted the implementation of CBSE curriculum in several government schools as a factor drawing students back from private institutions.
Impact cited by the government
Officials said around 24,000 students have moved from private to government schools to take advantage of enhanced facilities and the nominal fee structure. The move to introduce CBSE‑based education in government schools was described by the administration as yielding encouraging returns in terms of enrolment.
- Objective: Improve quality and infrastructure in rural and remote government schools.
- Features: Smart classrooms, sports infrastructure, nutritious mid‑day meals and recreational facilities.
- Broader goal: Increase public confidence in state schools and reduce dependence on private education.
Complementary public‑safety upgrade at Nerwa
In a related development announced by the Chief Minister, a new Fire Station has been established at Nerwa in Shimla district to strengthen emergency response in the area. The administration said the facility is intended to serve roughly 55,000 people in Nerwa and adjoining areas and will respond to fires and other emergencies such as heavy rainfall and landslides.
Officials noted that previously fire‑fighting vehicles were dispatched from stations in Chopal, Deha or Shimla, often leading to long response times. The new station is intended to reduce delays in rescue and relief operations in the remote hill region.
What to expect next
The government has not released a detailed timeline or budgetary allocations for the upgradation of the six schools. Parents and residents in the named localities will be watching for further announcements from the education department on start dates for construction, transfer or training of teachers for CBSE pedagogy, and arrangements for the day‑boarding components including dining and supervision.
Authorities have also not yet outlined whether more government schools will be included in subsequent phases of the Rajiv Gandhi model day‑boarding programme or how the state will monitor learning outcomes after the upgrades.
For students and parents seeking further information, the education department is the designated point for official updates and notices relating to the schools' conversion and associated enrolment procedures.
