In a landmark step toward modernising education, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated a centralised studio for hybrid-mode virtual and smart classrooms across 840 government schools in Uttarakhand. The launch event took place at Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya, Nanurkheda (Dehradun), where the Chief Minister also interacted virtually with students from across the state.
In a brief address, the Chief Minister said that the initiative marked a historic moment for Uttarakhand’s education system and would significantly enhance learning outcomes. “Education in the modern era is not confined to textbooks alone,” he stated, emphasising the role of digital learning, smart classrooms, and virtual platforms in creating engaging and inclusive education environments.
Our correspondent reports that the new centralised studio will connect rural and urban schools through real-time virtual sessions. Under the ICT scheme of Samagra Shiksha, expert teachers will conduct interactive lessons, enabling students from even the remotest regions to access quality education.
The Chief Minister informed that 226 schools in the state have been upgraded as PM Shri Schools, while 500 schools are already running virtual classrooms. He added that students can now study from home through the Uttarakhand Virtual Learning Application, which also allows them to self-evaluate and access lessons from reputed educators. In addition, five PM e-Vidya channels have been launched to ensure digital learning reaches every child, particularly in remote hill areas.
Our correspondent adds that the Chief Minister also spoke about the state’s ongoing efforts to make education both innovative and equitable. He said meritorious students from Classes 6 to 12 are being supported under the Chief Minister’s Meritorious Student Incentive Scheme, while top-performing students of Classes 10 and 12 from each development block are being sent on educational tours across India.
The Chief Minister further highlighted that vocational education in eight trades has begun in government secondary schools, benefitting more than 42,000 students. For the first time, employment fairs were organised for Class 12 vocational students, with 146 students selected by reputed companies — an effort that has been appreciated by the Union Education Ministry.
He added that Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to prepare a State Curriculum Framework for foundational education, under which schools now observe ‘Bagless Days’. Textbooks have been developed in Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Jaunsari languages to preserve local culture, while dictionaries are being compiled in Tharu, Boksa, and Rawanlti dialects. Through the ‘Hamari Virasat’ book, students from Classes 6 to 8 are learning about India’s cultural heritage, folk traditions, and great personalities.
Our correspondent reports that Dhami also referred to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a transformative framework for the country’s education sector. Uttarakhand, he noted, was among the first states to implement NEP, launching ‘Bal Vatika’ (early childhood classes) in 2022. All government and aided schools have now adopted NCERT textbooks, and students from Classes 1 to 12 receive free books.
Education Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, MLA Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’, Education Secretary Smt Ranjana Rajguru, Director General of Education Smt Deepti Singh, and other officials were present at the event. Students from various districts also joined the programme virtually.
