UNESCO, and the Government of Himachal Pradesh, convened the Second Steering Committee Meeting of the HP-FUTURES project on Friday – highlighting the significant statewide momentum generated in less than a year.
This phase of implementation has reached 12 districts and engaged over 750+ stakeholders, including teachers, principals, students, Eco Club members, school leaders, and community representatives. This also encompasses direct benefits to PM SHRI Schools – covering more than 200 teachers and reaching over 10000 students – across the three core pillars of competency-based education: 21st Century Skills, values education through sport, and greening education.
The State of Himachal Pradesh has always been a frontrunner in advancing education in India, and 21st century skills are essential for the future of our country. As a state that has proudly declared itself totally literate, we recognize that the journey does not end here and we must continue to strive for excellence. Quality education has consistently been our focus, and we are committed to further strengthen our education system to meet the aspirations of every learner. UNESCO is a valued partner and a major contributor to this process, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration to ensure that Himachal Pradesh continues to lead the way in innovative, future ready education.
Shri Rohit ThakurMinister of Education, Government of Himachal Pradesh
The HP FUTURES Project demonstrates how a comprehensive and future-ready vision for education can take shape when policy, pedagogy, and sustainability come together with purpose. Over the past months, extensive consultations across the state have generated clear insights and priorities. These findings now provide a strong foundation for the next phase of HP FUTURES, guiding focused actions to consolidate progress and strengthen implementation.
Joyce PoanChief of Education, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia
An initial review of competency-based education has confirmed its alignment with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023, along with strong teacher motivation and readiness to advance 21st Century Skills. The review also identified areas for improved delivery of 21st Century Skills in pedagogy and classroom practices, including approaches to enhance teacher capacity and assessment practices.
The Value Education through Sport component trained more than 200 teachers across 12 districts in 56 PM SHRI schools in Himachal Pradesh, with early implementation indicating high teacher engagement and positive effects on students’ social and emotional learning.
Under the Greening Education pillar, over 8,800 students and 275 stakeholders participated in climate-focused activities, supported by online quiz, teacher trainings and Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE initiatives that strengthened environmental education efforts. A consultation with teachers was also organised in Shimla on 25 November 2025 to understand how environmental education, student-led activities, and Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE initiatives are implemented across schools, and to identify opportunities to strengthen these efforts.
Together, these actions provide a solid basis for the next phase and the continued development of whole school approaches across Himachal Pradesh.
Looking ahead, Shri Rajesh Sharma IFS, State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Himachal Pradesh, provided direction on shifting the paradigm from traditional teaching methods to embed competency‑based education as integrated pedagogical reforms. Special emphasis was laid on the need to strengthen collaboration across the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), the District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), and the PM SHRI schools – expand the reach of the project to more schools across the state.
Sustained and strong collaboration will be essential to consolidate the progress Himachal Pradesh has achieved so far and to ensure continued momentum. For this, UNESCO is working with Pratham Education Foundation as a coordinating agency for the implementation of the project.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/hp-futures-has-benefited-over-10000-students-and-500-teachers-across-himachal-pradesh
