Uttarakhand CM Dhami inaugurates SCERT building, launches 442 smart classrooms

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 24 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the newly constructed building of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) at a programme in Nanurkheda, Dehradun, on Wednesday.
During the event, he also awarded students who secured the top 10 positions in the high school and intermediate examinations of 2023 and 2024, conducted by the Uttarakhand Board of School Education. These students, from three different schools, received the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay State Educational Excellence Award.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated 442 smart classrooms established in government schools across the state with the help of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Chief Minister Dhami remarked, "Today is an important day for the education system of the state. The students have achieved excellent results through their hard work, dedication, and commitment. These awards will inspire students and teachers to continue their dedication in the future and serve as an inspiration for others."
He noted that the Education Department was tasked with completing the SCERT building within two years. "A grand building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 29 crore and Rs 25 lakh within the prescribed time frame. The SCERT building will contribute to educational development, teacher training, educational research, and the overall enhancement of the state's education system," Dhami said.
The Chief Minister emphasised the importance of quality in construction, stating that the state government aims to ensure no compromise in the quality of any construction work.
He added that the introduction of 442 smart classes under CSR will improve the teaching-learning system in government schools. "The state government is also working on setting up virtual and smart classes in hybrid mode in 840 schools. Free textbooks are being provided to children from classes 1 to 12, along with shoes and bags for students from classes 1 to 8. A cycle scheme for girls entering class 9 and a scholarship scheme for meritorious students have also been implemented," he added.
Dhami reiterated the state government's commitment to ensuring that no student is deprived of basic necessities and that their studies are not affected. "The government is continually making policy decisions to modernise and enhance the practicality of Uttarakhand's education system. Providing better education to all is the state government's priority. We will not allow any student to lack education," he further stated.
Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat announced that the Uttarakhand Board results were declared on April 30 this year, giving students ample time to enrol in good institutions for higher education. He mentioned that the results for the upcoming academic session will be declared by April 20.
Under the Chief Minister's guidance, transparency has been introduced in teacher transfers, with a counselling system now in place. So far, 5000 teachers have been transferred. SCERT and DIET are being further strengthened, and from next year, teacher transfers will also be conducted online.
Rawat added that in schools with less than 70 percent of teachers, current teachers will not be relieved until new teachers arrive. The state government is providing free books, clothes, bags, and shoes to students, along with scholarships and free notebooks.
Director General of School Education Banshidhar Tiwari expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for his inspiration and direction to the Education Department. He stated that the construction of SCERT's own building will mark new milestones in educational development, training, and research. He also congratulated the principals and students of the awarded schools, noting that principals and teachers are the strong pillars of school education.