Vocational Horticulture to Be Integrated in Himachal Pradesh School Curriculum, According to Education Minister Rohit Thakur
Himachal Pradesh Embraces Horticulture and Public Administration in Education
Himachal Pradesh, a picturesque state in northern India, is set to revolutionize its education system by introducing Horticulture as a vocational subject in schools, and reviving the academic subject of Public Administration in colleges.
The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has been instructed to develop and submit a curriculum proposal for Horticulture within two weeks from early August 2025. This move is part of a broader review conducted by Education Minister Rohit Thakur, which also addresses recruitment processes, pending promotions, and the restoration of educational infrastructure damaged by recent rains.
Simultaneously, the state government has emphasized the importance of reviving and reintroducing Public Administration in colleges. This move aims to broaden academic offerings and provide students with a diverse range of choices in higher education.
The timely recruitment of qualified teaching staff and administrative personnel is deemed critical for ensuring the unhindered operation and qualitative delivery of education services across the state. Strict directives have been issued, with the urgent need to accelerate the hiring process being the most pressing.
The Minister's evaluation highlighted the strategic importance of these initiatives in shaping the future of education within the state. The goal is to maximize the impact of these flagship programs.
In addition to these initiatives, the Education Minister has announced that genuine demands of school management committee teachers will be considered sympathetically and taken to the cabinet for action. The matter of Principals' promotion has been forwarded to the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission for necessary steps.
During his recent visit to Delhi, Education Minister Rohit Thakur shared his experience of meeting with the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Minister also urged the Centre to release the pending Rs 180 crore under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme.
The Minister's review also covered several educational initiatives, including the Rajiv Gandhi Model Day Boarding Schools project and the Atal Adarsh Vidyalayas. The directive aims to promptly fill all existing vacant positions across various educational institutions, from primary schools to higher education establishments.
Horticulture will be introduced as a vocational subject in schools affiliated with the HPBOSE, while the HPBOSE has been instructed to reintroduce Public Administration as an academic subject in colleges. The Board has two weeks to develop an appropriate curriculum for the new subject.
The State Education Minister apprised Dharmendra Pradhan of the damages caused to educational institutions in the State. The assessment identified bottlenecks or challenges hindering the swift implementation of these initiatives. However, the Minister remains optimistic about the potential impact these initiatives will have on the future of education in Himachal Pradesh.
Online education and learning opportunities can be expanded by integrating Horticulture as a vocational course within the digital learning platforms in Himachal Pradesh, complementing the practical training students will receive in schools. To further foster academic growth, reviving and reintroducing Public Administration as a subject in colleges will provide students with a broader range of choices for self-development and education-and-self-development.
