The Directorate of School Education, Himachal Pradesh has issued an order permitting Government Senior Secondary Schools affiliated with CBSE to function in two shifts on a temporary basis to manage the increasing student enrolment across the State. The decision comes in response to infrastructural constraints that prevent the creation of additional sections under existing CBSE guidelines.
The move, effective immediately, aims to ensure equitable access to quality education and prevent denial of admission due to space limitations. Schools will typically run junior classes in the morning and senior classes in the evening, with adequate time gaps for safety, sanitation, and smooth academic management.
Principals are tasked with finalizing operational details in consultation with School Management Committees (SMCs) and counseling parents and students regarding admission options in nearby schools, without coercion. The arrangement is temporary and will remain under periodic review, subject to CBSE approval and the availability of adequate infrastructure.
Officials clarified that once space permits—through section enhancement, mergers, or use of government buildings—schools may revert to a normal single-shift system in line with CBSE norms.



