Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday announced a complete ban on students carrying mobile phones within school premises, from pre-nursery to Class XII, with effect from the upcoming academic session.

He said teachers would, however, be permitted to keep their mobile phones either in staff rooms or in their bags.

The Chief Minister made the announcement while inaugurating a range of state-of-the-art facilities at the Directorate of Samagra Shiksha, including the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK), an Education Gallery, a Programme Management Studio Conference Area, a new conference hall and a modern central heating system.

Addressing the gathering, Sukhu said the newly inaugurated facilities would significantly enhance administrative efficiency and academic monitoring, while ushering in a new era of digital education governance in the state. He said the initiative reflected the present government's vision of placing education at the centre of Himachal Pradesh's overall development.

The Chief Minister said the education sector has been accorded top priority over the last three years, with the implementation of several key reforms whose positive outcomes are now visible. He pointed out that Himachal Pradesh has improved its national ranking in education quality assessment from 21st to fifth place.

Sukhu said the Vidya Samiksha Kendra marked a major milestone in the state's education reforms. He noted that Himachal Pradesh has emerged as one of the leading states to adopt an integrated digital platform that provides real-time data on teaching processes, learning outcomes, student assessments, attendance, resource management and school administration.

He added that initiatives such as 'Abhyas Himachal', geo-spatial technology-based smart attendance systems and 'Nipun Pragati' are helping ensure scientific assessment and continuous monitoring of students' learning levels across the state.