Horticulture to be optional subject in schools: Minister

The Education Department is planning to introduce horticulture as an optional subject in schools from the next academic session. The subject will be introduced in a school where there are enough students interested in pursuing it.

“We are working towards introducing horticulture as an optional subject from Class IX-XII from the next year,” said Education Minister Rohit Thakur. “In fact, we will be reintroducing the subject in our schools. It was available until 2012 in select schools, especially in upper Shimla. For some reason, it went out of the school curriculum,” the minister said.

The department is planning to introduce the subject in dominant horticulture districts of the state that include Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu and Mandi. “We plan to introduce the subject in whichever school from where we get the demand,” the minister said.

At present, several vocational courses are also being offered to students from Class IX onwards in government schools of the state. Agriculture is among one of the several vocational courses being offered to students.

The minister said, “The course will help the youth look for self- employment. Also, it will help them in case they decide to pursue higher education in horticulture.”

The introduction of horticulture as an optional subject would be of significant help to students, who want to take it up for earning livelihood, he added.