Over 800 Himachal govt senior secondary schools headless as state clears long-pending principal promotions

With an overwhelming 830 of Himachal Pradesh’s 967 government senior secondary schools operating without permanent principals, the state education department has cleared promotion files of an equal number of eligible senior lecturers and headmasters, acknowledging a leadership vacuum that has persisted for years, especially in remote and tribal belts.

The clearances, approved during a meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) chaired by Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar on December 15, mark the first large-scale promotion exercise to the rank of principal in recent years. Until now, most of these schools had been functioning under ad-hoc arrangements, with headmasters and senior lecturers holding additional charge.

While the move signals administrative urgency, uncertainty clouds its outcome. Formal appointment orders will be issued only after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s approval, and officials privately concede that whether all promoted principals will actually join their postings remains an open question.

“Vacancies in 830 senior secondary schools, particularly in tribal areas, are a matter of serious concern. That is why the promotion files were cleared,” Kanwar said, adding that the department would ensure compliance. “Teachers are generally reluctant to accept postings in far-flung areas.”

The crisis is most acute in Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Sirmour and Chamba, where almost all senior secondary schools lack permanent principals. The problem also extends to remote and tribal pockets of Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts.

Himachal Pradesh has around 14,500 government schools, including 967 senior secondary institutions. Senior officials pointed out that principal posts are largely filled in plain districts such as Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Solan, underscoring a stark regional imbalance.

“The newly promoted principals will have little choice but to join their assigned schools,” a senior officer said, indicating that unlike teachers and lecturers, principals cannot be easily adjusted near their native districts.

Sources, however, remain cautious. “Experience shows that even principals hesitate to join remote and tribal postings,” one official said. “Promotions may be granted, but actual joining has always been a challenge.”

Director of School Education Ashish Kumar Kohli struck an optimistic note, saying most promoted principals were expected to take charge. “The promotions are based on seniority and come with significant financial benefits. That should encourage joining, particularly in difficult areas,” he said.

For hundreds of schools long without stable leadership, the real test will begin not with cleared files—but with principals walking into classrooms perched on Himachal’s toughest terrain.