Himachal Pradesh is poised to emerge the Educational Hub of the country in coming years and the missionary educational institutions had been the source of inspiration in bringing about qualitative improvement in the education system. This was stated by Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister in his address to the congregation of the Council of Bishops of the Church of North India at the inaugural day of this four-day long conference being held here last evening.
Chief Minister said that the State had succeeded in creating a vast network of educational institutions crossing over to 16500 in the government sector alone while about 2500 more were supplementing the endeavour in the education sector of the State Government. He said that after attaining the target of expansion the State was now focusing on consolidation of the same and create centres of par excellence learning in prevailing and emerging educational trends. He said that State Government was creating model educational institutions where quality infrastructure was being built. He added that educational institutions operated by missionary organizations had been the source of inspiration to the State Government to build quality infrastructure. He said that the State had been awarded at the national level for being best in education in the country.
Virbhadra Singh said that H.P. happens to be the historical in the sense that Shimla was the summer capital of the erstwhile British regime and a number of renowned educational institution had come up in Shimla, Dalhousie, Kasauli and other hill stations, which were still rendering yeoman service in imparting quality education. He said that all such institutions were still admitting students from all over the world and the congenial environment of the State was an added advantage. He said that BCS, St. Bedes, Auckland House School, St. Edwards, Tara Hall and St. Thomas School were the milestones in the education sector which had produced innumerable students who excelled on all fronts bringing laurels to the nation and the institution as well.
Singh assured the Bishops all possible help from the State Government to preserve their legitimate activities in the State and in the best interest of the democratic norms as also the minorities.
