Ranchi, July 15: The Central government has flagged gaps in access to secondary and higher secondary education in Jharkhand, directing the state government to take corrective measures to improve educational outreach in underserved areas.
According to the Union Ministry of Education, 7,499 villages in Jharkhand do not have access to a high school, while 9,816 villages lack access to higher secondary (Intermediate) education within the prescribed distance norms. These account for about 6.15 per cent and 8.06 per cent, respectively, of the state’s total villages.
The issue was raised during the Programme Approval Board (PAB) meeting held to consider the budget for the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan for the 2026-27 financial year. During the meeting, officials of the state’s School Education and Literacy Department were asked to identify the affected areas and ensure access to secondary and higher secondary education.
Under the prescribed norms, every village should have at least one high school within a five-kilometre radius, while a Plus Two (higher secondary) school should be available within seven to 10 kilometres. The ministry noted that these standards are yet to be met in thousands of villages across the state.
State government officials informed the Board that underserved areas are being identified and that transport or escort facilities would be provided to students in places where schools are not easily accessible. They also highlighted ongoing efforts to upgrade existing schools.
The Jharkhand government has decided to upgrade 765 government schools into Plus Two higher secondary schools. The proposal has already received approval from Chief Minister Hemant Soren and is expected to be placed before the state Cabinet shortly.
The proposed plan includes the upgradation of 449 high schools and 316 middle schools. The state estimates that the initiative will require an annual expenditure of approximately Rs 1,109 crore.
Officials said only schools with at least one acre of land have been selected for upgradation. The government expects that once these schools are upgraded, access to secondary and higher secondary education will improve significantly for many villages that currently remain underserved.
