Rohit Thakur chairs second steering committee meeting of UNESCO HP FUTURES Project

Education Minister Rohit Thakur today presided over the Second Steering Committee Meeting of the HP FUTURES Project (Himachal Pradesh: Foundation for Upskilling, Teacher Excellence, Understanding, Readiness, Equity and Sustainability) organized by Samagra Shiksha. He reviewed the progress made so far and discussed the way forward for this key education reform initiative of the present State Government.

He said that the meeting was organized to share updates on completed activities, learning’s from field consultations, review implementation progress and set priorities for the next phase. He said that since the first Steering Committee Meeting held in September 2025, consultations have been conducted with civil society organizations, Samagra Shiksha, SCERT and DIETs on Competency-Based Education. School visits and interactions with teachers, students, policymakers and School Management Committees were also undertaken, along with focused engagements on Greening Education with institutions such as HIMCOSTE.

The Education Minister said that the HP FUTURES Project was launched in 2025 following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Himachal Pradesh and UNESCO. He said the project aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework 2023 aims to strengthen the quality, relevance and equity of education in the state by improving teaching-learning practices, promoting sustainability and nurturing values among students.

Rohit Thakur said that the project was built on three important pillars that directly respond to the needs of Himachal Pradesh. Competency-Based Education focuses on moving away from rote learning and developing critical thinking, problem-solving and practical skills among students. Value Education through sports uses sports-based learning to promote discipline, teamwork, inclusion and leadership, contributing to the overall development of children. Greening Education integrates environmental awareness, sustainability and climate resilience into school education, which is especially important for a hill state like Himachal Pradesh with its fragile ecology and rich biodiversity.

The Minister emphasized that these pillars together support a future-ready education system suited to Himachal’s unique geography and social context. He said the project has already helped in identifying gaps between policy and classroom practice, improving teacher confidence in inclusion and equity, increasing student participation in eco-clubs and climate-related activities and strengthening community and School Management Committee involvement.

The Minister was also informed that nearly 200 teachers from across the state have been trained on Value Education through Sports, along with specialised training for senior secondary physical education lecturers. In the coming years more schools would be included and maximum interactions and training programmes would be conducted in educational institutions.

Rohit Thakur appreciated the support and technical expertise provided by UNESCO and said that the whole-school and whole-community approach under HP FUTURES would greatly benefit both teachers and students. He said that sustained collaboration, structured follow-up and strong monitoring systems would be key to scaling successful practices and further strengthening the state’s education system.

He also highlighted Himachal’s strong performance in the education sector. Recently it had been declared fully literate state and has secured top positions in national assessments such as ASER, PARAKH and NAS. He urged all stakeholders to focus on further improving quality and innovation so that Himachal continues to serve as a model state in education.

A detailed presentation on the HP FUTURES vision and progress was made during the meeting.

Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Rajesh Sharma presented the vote of thanks.

Director of Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet K. Sharma, Director of School Education Ashish Kohli, UNESCO delegates and senior officers of the Education Department were present on the occasion.