Education in Himachal Pradesh

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Education in Himachal Pradesh
Ministry of Education
Minister of EducationRohit Thakur
National education budget
Budget18.9% of GDP ($ $101 million)
General details
Primary languagesEnglish,Hindi
Established
Compulsory education
1 April 1998
Literacy (2011)
Total82.80%
Male89.53%
Female75.93%
Enrollment (2021)
Total99.1%
Primary100%
Secondary94.1%
Post secondary94.1%

The government is working constantly to prepare various plans to strengthen the education system of Himachal. The state government has decided to start up with 3 major nursing colleges to develop the health system in the state.[1]

Himachal has one of the highest literacy rates in India. Hamirpur District is among the top districts in the country for literacy. Education rates among women are quite encouraging in the state.
Himachal Pradesh is home to many educational institutions offering a wide variety of courses. There are five universities, eight medical colleges, five dental colleges and two engineering colleges in the state. There are over 10,000 primary schools, 1,000 secondary schools and more than 1,300 high schools in Himachal.[2] Hindi and English are compulsory languages in schools whereas Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu are chosen as optional languages.[3]

In meeting the constitutional obligation to make primary education compulsory, Himachal has now become the first state in India to make elementary education accessible to every child in the state.[4] Himachal Pradesh government is also very keen to transform this state into an education hub. In March 2008, Government of India made an announcement stating that as part of the 11th five-year plan, an Indian Institute of Technology will be established in this state. Further, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Engineering and Technology Institute has been started at Pragatinagar, in Shimla district. This college will have engineering related courses such as ITI, Diploma and Degree all in same campus.

History

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The history of education in Himachal Pradesh, a northern state in India, is marked by a gradual evolution and development over the centuries. The educational landscape has been shaped by historical, cultural, and geographical factors. Here is an overview of the history of education in Himachal Pradesh

Ancient Period

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In ancient Himachal Pradesh, education thrived through the Gurukul system, where students resided with their gurus, receiving comprehensive education across various disciplines. However, the challenging hilly terrain and remote locations posed impediments to establishing formal educational institutions during this era.

Medieval Period

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The medieval period witnessed the influence of Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples as pivotal educational centers in Himachal Pradesh. Notably, religious hubs like Rewalsar, associated with Guru Padmasambhava's meditation, became significant centers of learning, contributing to the educational landscape.

Colonial Period

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With the advent of the colonial era, Western-style education was introduced, leaving an indelible mark on Himachal Pradesh. Missionary schools were pioneers in providing modern education, while the British establishment of schools and colleges in major towns aimed to disseminate education widely across the region.

Post-Independence Period

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Following India's independence in 1947, concerted efforts were made to enhance and expand the education system in Himachal Pradesh. The state government took proactive measures, establishing schools and colleges, especially in rural and remote areas, to ensure accessibility to education for all segments of the population.

Establishment of Himachal Pradesh University

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A significant milestone in the state's educational history was the establishment of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) in 1970, headquartered in Shimla. HPU quickly evolved into a major hub for higher education, contributing significantly to the academic landscape of the state.

Focus on Primary Education

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In a bid to promote primary education and narrow the literacy gap, the state government initiated various schemes and programs. These efforts were directed towards enhancing the quality of primary education, ensuring a strong foundational base for learners.

Technical and Vocational Education

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Recent decades have seen a notable emphasis on technical and vocational education in response to evolving job market demands. Himachal Pradesh has witnessed the establishment of technical institutes and polytechnics, aligning education with the changing needs of industries and fostering practical skills among students.

Educational Institutes

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Engineering institutions

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National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, (Admin block)

The state of Himachal Pradesh is a late starter in establishing engineering institutes as compared to other states of India. National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur (then Regional Engineering College, Hamirpur) was the first institute established in 1986. IITT college of Engineering, Kala Amb was the second institute established in the 20th century. The remaining institutes were established in the 21st century. A Government engineering school namely, Jawaharlal Nehru Government Engineering College in Sundernagar, was established by state govt in 2006. Needless to say that none of these institutions have achieved academic maturity as yet. Though some institutions (notably National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur) are striving hard to be centers of excellence, however the results are not encouraging. People of Himachal Pradesh nurture a desire to make this state a Switzerland of India because both share similar topography, however Himachal Pradesh lacks Swiss industrial prowess at present. It is hoped that manpower trained at these institutions shall support the industries in the region and some budding entrepreneurs will emerge to transform the industrial landscape of the state.

Facts and Figures
Type Number
Primary schools 10483
Middle schools 1056
Secondary / Higher secondary schools 1339
General colleges 64
Medical colleges 25
Homoeopathic medical colleges 01
Engineering 187
Universities 20
S.S.I. Units 30176

Educational institutions (non-governmental)

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Himachal Pradesh is home to several non-governmental organisations (NGO) operating educational institutes in the state.

  • Deer Park Institute offers educational courses and seminars in classical Indian wisdom traditions.[5]
  • TQM World Institution of Quality Excellence (TQM-WIQE), It provides training & consulting for the Quality and Productivity Improvement of MSMEs and MNCs.Also provide training for Schools, Educational Institutions and Universities.
  • Dharmalaya Institute provides education and vocational training in vernacular earthen architecture in the traditional Kangra style, as well as service-learning courses in sustainable living and immersive ecotourism programs.[6]
  • NISHTHA is a charitable trust working for the benefit and development of society as a whole by improving the welfare of families with particular focus on women and children, through activities in the fields of health, education and environment.[7]
  • Shantideva Homeopathic Research Institute (SHRI) runs educational programs to increase awareness of healthy lifestyles, offering free clinics and seminars for the rural population of Himachal Pradesh.

Dr Puran Chand Medical Charitable Trust (Regd) runs a number of Institutions in the State – Himachal Dental College, Sundernagar (District Mandi), Himachal Institute of Dental Sciences, Himachal Institute of Technology, Himachal Institute of Nursing, Himachal Institute of Life Sciences, and Himachal Institute of Pharmacy all at Paonta Sahib (District Sirmaur)

References

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  1. ^ "Educational Profile of Himachal Pradesh". General Overview of Education in Himachal. Pragati Infosoft Pvt. Ltd. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
  2. ^ "Factual source on Education in Himachal". Government of India. Archived from the original on 30 April 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
  3. ^ [nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM47thReport.pdf National Committee for Linguistic Minorities]
  4. ^ Dua, H.K. (2006). "Educational updates- Himachal". The Tribune Trust. The Tribune House. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
  5. ^ "Welcome to Deer Park Institute". deerpark.in.
  6. ^ "Dharmalaya Institute: Our Himalayan Eco-Campus – Dharmalaya". dharmalaya.in.
  7. ^ "Nishtha - Rural Health, Education and Environment Centre". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.

See also

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