Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that State Government has accorded top priority to the education and budget provision of Rs. 3836 crore has been made for this sector which was 17 per cent of the total State budget. Shri Virbhadra Singh was presiding over the Annual Function of the Government Senior Secondary School for Girls, Portmore, here today. He said the State had achieved remarkable progress in literacy and literacy percentage has reached 83.78 percent and the enrolment levels of the state were one of the highest in the country. In order to ensure cent percent enrolment in the schools the government was committed to open more educational institutions to facilitate the school children along-with better infrastructural facilities.He said that State had made significant strides in the field of education and government was endeavouring to maintain the highest education standards so that the students could become not only nationally but also globally competitive. He said that the State Government had made functional all the schools de-notified by the previous Government. The Chief Minister said the State government was providing free travel facility to government school students besides other initiatives. Special emphasis had been given on improving the quality of education by having the right curriculum, trained teachers and provision of their regular in service training and making them accountable for learning levels of students.He said that encouraging the meritorious students in the state, the government had announced that any student of Himachal Pradesh who gets admission in IITs, IIMs or AIIMS would be given a cash incentive of Rs. 75 thousand.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that Portmore school was one of the best educational institute in the State which was imparting quality education to the girl students. He said that the students of this institution had been excelling in educational and co-curricular activities adding that more facilities would be provided as per the requirements. He directed the Public Works department for the fencing of the school complex and construction of an alternative path for the school auditorium. He said that government would also consider providing one more hostel for the school.He released the school magazine-Vatika and distributed the prizes to the meritorious students.Smt. Nisha Bhalooni, Principal, while presenting the annual school report said that it was due to the efforts of Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh that a new school building was constructed in 2007 and various facilities were provided to this institution. She said that more than 1600 girls were getting education from this institute along-with 20 special girl students.Shri Sanjay Chauhan, Mayor. Shri Harish Janartha, former Deputy Mayor, Shri Dinkar Burathoki, Director, Higher Education and other senior officers were present on the occasion.