Though Hindi, Garhwali and Kumaoni are commonly spoken, English is the medium of educationat many schools in Uttarakhand. As per the final data of Census 2011, the state has a literacy rate of 78.8%; the male literacy rate is 87.4% and the female literacy rate is 70%.
The state has 138 higher education institutions, 161 industrial training institutes (ITIs) and 52 polytechnic colleges. There are about 1,63,745 students in higher education institutions.
As of March 2014, there were 22 universities for higher education in the state. The state accounts for one central university; four deemed universities, six private universities, nine state universities and 116 degree and post degree colleges.
There are 13 district institutes of education and training centres in the state. In January 2015, the Uttarakhand government granted formal recognition to 168 privately owned high school and intermediate colleges, with immediate effect.
Besides, the state government approved the setting up of three new medical colleges in Bhagwanpur, Rudrapur and Pithoragarh.
The state government is drafting a special policy for developing Uttarakhand as a hub of education. The state has decided to open Rajiv Gandhi residential Abhinav Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya and five model schools in each district.
Special incentives will be given to organisations (and individuals) wanting to invest in the education sector in Uttarakhand. In order to check migration from the mountains, nine villages have been chosen across the state for developmental activities in the education, eco-tourism and health sectors.
Nainisar will be developed as an eco-village and loan will be provided under the Vir Chandra Singh Garhwal scheme. State government is taking steps to make technological education a little more girl-oriented.
All women ITI, polytechnic and nursing institutes are being conceived to help girls develop proper skills and get employment.
The government will provide land on lease to reputed private institutions to help them open schools in the hill areas of the state which lack educational facilities. Chief minister Harish Rawat had instructed officials to prepare an action plan in this regard.
The government will provide educational institutions not only land but also other facilities required to run schools in remote hill areas like drinking water, electricity and communication systems.
However, the institutions willing to open their campuses in the hill areas will have to fulfil certain conditions to acquire government land on lease for the purpose.
They will have to reserve 30% of the seats in these schools for the wards of state government employees and locals. Besides, the schools will have to abide by the fee structure fixed by the state government for the reserved seats.
Another condition for giving land on lease to these institutions will be appointment of locals to clerical and fourth grade posts in their schools.
The beautiful hill state is home to some of the country’s best institutes of higher education which include:
There are many notable schools and institutions in Uttarakhand.