Himachal Pradesh’s Pupil-Teacher ratio among the highest in the Country
Image used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, March 22,
The Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) in Himachal Pradesh is among the highest in the country, with the state government actively working to fill vacant teaching positions despite a significant decline in student enrollment over the years.
In response to a query raised by MLA Pawan Kajal (Kangra) in the Vidhan Sabha, Education Minister Rohit Thakur informed the House that 5,291 teaching positions have been filled in the past two years. Of these, 3,450 appointments have been made, including positions for Shastri, Junior Basic Teachers (JBT), and candidates from the handicapped category. Additionally, 3,730 posts are currently in the process of being filled, although some appointments remain under legal scrutiny.
The minister highlighted the declining student enrollment figures, stating that in 2003-04, Himachal Pradesh had 12,407 elementary schools with 9.71 lakh students. Currently, the student count has dropped to around 4.67 lakh, while the number of schools remains largely unchanged. To address the situation, the government is rationalizing teacher postings by redeploying surplus teachers to remote and tribal areas where staffing needs are higher.
Thakur also informed the House that the state’s PTR has improved significantly from 1:22 to 1:11 over the past two decades, the highest in India. In some primary schools, the PTR is as low as 1:3, necessitating further rationalization. He further added that 700 vacant posts in Biology and Physics have been filled, while 43 out of 63 advertised positions for History and Hindi teachers have also been appointed.
On the issue of tribal schools, the minister stated that special efforts are being made to ensure the deployment of surplus teachers in areas with higher student numbers, particularly in tribal regions where some schools have a PTR as low as 1:3.
Meanwhile, during a discussion on fire safety concerns, Urban Development Minister Rajesh Dharmani informed the House that 49 government buildings in Shimla, Rampur, and Hamirpur continue to operate in heritage structures that have not been declared fire-safe. However, he noted that fire safety regulations for these buildings did not fall under his department’s jurisdiction. Following his statement, the Speaker directed that the matter be referred to the Chief Minister for further review.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
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