Agartala, July 21, 2025: Chief Minister Prof Dr Manik Saha on Monday said that the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of female students in Tripura’s colleges has seen a notable surge following the state government’s decision to waive college fees for girls.

Speaking at the State-level Commendation Ceremony held at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala city, Dr. Saha highlighted that the fee waiver announced on the occasion of Rakhi Purnima after he assumed office played a significant role in encouraging more girls to pursue higher education.

The Chief Minister also emphasized the state government’s commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure. In the financial year 2024–25, the government has constructed new buildings in various schools at a cost of ₹153 crore and undertaken renovation work in 346 schools with an additional ₹80 crore.

For FY 2025–26, ₹264 crore has been allocated for building infrastructure in 30 schools, while ₹151 crore has been set aside for renovating 123 schools.

Dr. Saha further stressed the need for adopting technology in education. Highlighting the growing importance of drone technology, he informed the audience about the establishment of a Drone Technology Centre at the Tripura Institute of Technology (TIT).

Calling for integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms, the Chief Minister urged teachers to equip themselves with new-age digital tools and ensure that students remain focused during school hours rather than relying on private tuition.

He also pointed out that Tripura’s performance in CBSE examinations this year surpassed that of Assam by two percent. Addressing the long-standing shortage of teachers due to the 10,323 case, he assured that efforts are underway to recruit qualified teaching staff.

Special Secretary to Education Raval Hamendra Kumar, Director N.C. Sharma, and SCERT Director L. Darlong also attended the event.