In one of its toughest enforcement actions in recent years, the Himachal Pradesh School Education Board has withdrawn recognition from 294 private schools for violating curriculum norms and teaching from textbooks not authorised by the board.

The move marks a decisive push to restore academic discipline and ensure uniform learning standards across the state.

The action follows a state-wide inquiry that uncovered extensive non-compliance. Schools were found using textbooks supplied by private publishers, bypassing the board-prescribed materials they are legally required to follow. Officials said the scale of the violations left the board with “no option” but to initiate immediate derecognition.

The board currently oversees roughly 1,400 private schools offering Classes 9 to 12. During a recent inspection cycle, all affiliated institutions were asked to furnish purchase bills for textbooks used by their students. A records review revealed that 294 schools had procured books from unapproved sources, directly contravening their affiliation conditions.

Reinforcing its curriculum mandate, the board stated that every recognised institution must adhere strictly to the textbooks and syllabus it prescribes, a requirement explicitly communicated at the time recognition is granted. Any departure from these norms, officials noted, compromises standardisation, transparency, and academic integrity.

The crackdown unfolds amid wider education reforms pursued by the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government. Over the past three years, more than 1,500 schools have been closed due to declining enrolment, many of them established under the previous administration.

The state has also announced plans to transition 100 schools to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) framework to align with national benchmarks and elevate learning outcomes.

Together, the derecognition drive and recent policy shifts underscore the government’s resolve to enforce accountability across the education system and ensure that every institution — public or private — delivers quality education in line with established standards.