Raipur
Schools across Chhattisgarh reopened on Monday after the summer vacation, but with a revised schedule due to the prevailing heat. From tomorrow, June 17, classes will run from 7 AM to 11 AM. Normal school timings will resume from June 23.
“Shala Pravesh Utsav” (School Enrollment Festival) was celebrated in schools across the state, including JN Pandey School in Raipur, where teachers welcomed students with sweets. Similar celebrations were held in Bilaspur, Jagdalpur, Raigarh, Durg-Bhilai, and other parts of Chhattisgarh. Raipur District Education Officer Vijay Khandelwal stated that block-level “Shala Pravesh Utsav” programs are slated for June 18, followed by a district-level event on June 20.
The state government has announced that no school in Chhattisgarh is now without teachers, following an extensive rationalisation process over the past few months. Previously, approximately 212 primary schools and 48 upper primary schools were teacher-less, while 6,872 primary schools and 255 upper primary schools were operating with just one teacher.
The government also revealed that 211 schools had zero student enrollment but still had teachers posted. Additionally, 166 schools have been merged, including 133 rural schools with fewer than 10 students and 33 urban schools with fewer than 30 students.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had earlier written to all public representatives in the state, urging their active participation in “Shala Pravesh Utsav”. The initiative aims to strengthen the education sector and ensure 100 per cent enrollment of children in schools.
In his letter, the Chief Minister acknowledged that achieving complete literacy in the state is challenging but not impossible. He stressed the need for all sections of society to collaborate to make the “impossible possible”. A crucial first step is to ensure no child is deprived of schooling and that all children are enrolled on time.
Chief Minister Sai highlighted that the Right to Education Act is in force in the state, and the National Education Policy 2020 aims to gradually reduce the school dropout rate to zero by Class 12. This requires all stakeholders to identify and address educational barriers.
He also mentioned the launch of the “Mukhyamantri Shiksha Gunvatta Abhiyan” (Chief Minister’s Education Quality Campaign) to improve academic standards in government schools. The government has prioritised posting teachers in previously teacher-less and single-teacher schools through rationalisation, ensuring every child has access to education.
