Shimla, June 24 (UNI) Stung by a recent incident that exposed glaring gaps in students' general knowledge during a surprise school visit, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has prompted the state education department to implement a significant reform: compulsory daily news reading during morning assemblies in all government schools.
The Directorate of Elementary Education issued a formal notification on June 23 mandating this initiative. The directive aims to boost students’ awareness of current affairs, sharpen communication skills, and instill the habit of staying informed. The move comes in direct response to the Chief Minister's unannounced visit to Government Senior Secondary School at Baga Sarahan in Kullu, where Class X students were unable to answer basic questions such as the name of India’s President and its capital city. The correct answers were, embarrassingly, provided by Class IV students instead.
Following the incident, Sukhu expressed deep concern over the declining education standards and directed the education department to take corrective steps.
"It is unacceptable that students in higher classes are unable to respond to basic civic knowledge questions," the Chief Minister had said at the time.
He also highlighted in the Vidhan Sabha that the state’s education ranking had slipped from 8th to 18th position nationally over the past five years.
According to School Education Director Ashish Kohli, students will now read headlines from English and Hindi newspapers during the morning assembly, with participation rotating by roll number.
Teachers will assist in selecting age-appropriate news focused on general knowledge, science, environment, and important global or national developments—while avoiding sensational content.
Libraries would be better utilised, and schools have been instructed to ensure regular newspaper availability. The reading session would be limited to 3–5 minutes to maintain the flow of the assembly.
The education department hopes that this reform will not only help students become more informed citizens but also encourage public speaking, improve vocabulary, and enhance critical thinking—marking a shift from rote learning to holistic development in Himachal’s government schools.
UNI ML RN