The central government is working on a major scheme to connect girls from rural and remote areas with higher education. Under this scheme, girls' hostels will be built in all 800 districts of the country to ensure that girls do not drop out of their studies due to the distance between their homes and colleges.

The Ministry of Education has sent the proposal to the Ministry of Finance, and it is expected that an announcement may be made in the upcoming 2026 budget. A crucial meeting of chief secretaries from all states is scheduled to be held in Delhi from December 26 to 28.

This meeting will include detailed discussions on increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50 percent and preventing dropouts. The government is placing special emphasis on the education of girls, which is why all districts may receive hostels.

Discussion on several issues
States have been asked to present their plans for increasing the GER. The possibility of running classes in two shifts in colleges will also be discussed. In addition, consensus will be sought on issues such as opening new colleges, promoting online education, and standardizing the curriculum and pattern of board examinations across the country.

During this meeting, suggestions from the states will also be sought on skill-based education and the inclusion of new subjects. The government aims to bring the standard of education in line with international standards through improved infrastructure and modern facilities.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content