Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has made English-medium instruction available from Class 1 in all 9,617 government primary schools across the state, while students and parents continue to have the option of choosing Hindi-medium education.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur, in a written reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Janak Raj, said the provision has been implemented in all government primary schools across Himachal Pradesh.
According to the minister, a decision taken on January 3, 2024, allows students and their parents to choose between Hindi and English as the medium of instruction. At present, however, students in all 9,617 government primary schools have opted for English-medium instruction, the minister stated.
The district-wise distribution of these primary schools is:
| District | Government Primary Schools |
|---|---|
| Bilaspur | 526 |
| Chamba | 1,136 |
| Hamirpur | 425 |
| Kangra | 1,465 |
| Kinnaur | 140 |
| Kullu | 719 |
| Lahaul-Spiti | 152 |
| Mandi | 1,521 |
| Shimla | 1,342 |
| Sirmaur | 998 |
| Solan | 725 |
| Una | 468 |
| Total | 9,617 |
Mandi has the highest number of government primary schools at 1,521, followed by Kangra with 1,465 and Shimla with 1,342. Lahaul-Spiti has the lowest number at 152, followed by Kinnaur with 140 schools.
The government’s decision provides flexibility to families while expanding access to English-medium education in government schools. The availability of both mediums is intended to ensure that parents can choose the mode of instruction they consider most suitable for their children.
