Shimla: In a bid to revamp the education sector and uplift the standard of teaching in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched the  'International Tour for Teachers' programme.

 The initiative aims to provide a global exposure to educators and equip them with innovative teaching methodologies, he claimed.

Under this program, 102 teachers from across the state have been selected for a five-day tour to Singapore, scheduled to commence on February 24.

Additionally, foreign tour kits have been provided to the selected teachers to facilitate their journey. Another batch comprising 98 teachers is set to embark on a similar tour abroad on March 15.

Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized the need for educators to acquaint themselves with new technologies and teaching methods prevalent globally.

He stressed that such exposure visits would foster better coordination between teachers and students, ultimately enhancing the quality of education in the state.

Addressing the decline in Himachal's ranking to the 18th position in terms of educational quality, Chief Minister Sukhu attributed it to the lack of interest from the previous government.

He underscored his administration's commitment to improving educational standards to equip students for future challenges.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister announced plans to introduce English as a medium of instruction from the first grade in government schools starting from the next academic session. This move aims to align the state's education system with contemporary global standards.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur hailed the launch of the 'International Tour for Teachers' programme as a historic moment.

He reiterated the government's dedication to enhancing the quality of education and emphasized the ongoing efforts to fill vacant positions in the education department.