CM Sukhu on Wednesday announced that a new school building will be constructed at Nerwa in Shimla district at a cost of ₹5 crore, while interacting with students of the recently upgraded CBSE-affiliated Government Senior Secondary School, Nerwa.
Addressing students during an interactive session, the Chief Minister said the state government has converted over 150 schools into CBSE curriculum-based institutions to ensure quality education reaches rural areas as well. He noted that student enrolment at Nerwa School has witnessed a sharp rise after the transition to the CBSE system, prompting the government to allow the school to function in two shifts.
Sukhu said the new school building would be completed within two years and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening educational infrastructure across Himachal Pradesh.
The interaction turned lively as students posed questions on leadership, education, employment and politics. Responding to a question by Class X student Viheen Chauhan on why there is no examination to become an MLA, the Chief Minister remarked that legislators face “an examination every five years” in the form of elections, where people decide the future of candidates through their votes.
When asked by a student why people describe him as a “warrior,” Sukhu spoke about his humble background and personal struggles, saying that setbacks are part of life and perseverance ultimately leads to success. He encouraged students not to lose heart in the face of failure.
On his vision for the state, the Chief Minister said making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant remains his top priority. He added that expanding CBSE schools into rural regions was aimed at ensuring students in villages receive education on par with urban centres.
Students also raised concerns related to IT training, traffic congestion, foreign language education and school cleanliness. Sukhu assured that the government would consider introducing on-job training opportunities for IT students and said efforts are underway to promote foreign language learning after Class XII to improve overseas employment opportunities for youth.
Responding to concerns about traffic jams faced by students, the Chief Minister assured that a bypass road would be constructed in the area. In a lighter moment, Sukhu asked students whether anyone brought mobile phones to school. Their unanimous “no” triggered laughter across the gathering.
The Chief Minister later inspected the school campus and shared lunch with students. Officials said enrolment at the school has increased significantly after the CBSE affiliation, rising from 959 students last year to nearly 1,300 in the current academic session.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
