Himachal: Government to change school curriculum, focus on state’s rich history and heritage
Himachal Pradesh: Himachal Pradesh is set to revise its school curriculum to focus more on the state’s history, culture and heritage. Chairing a high-level meeting to discuss the changes, Education Minister Rohit Thakur directed department officials to prepare a curriculum that includes the state’s ancient temples, monasteries, forts, heritage sites, traditional architecture, dialects, folk arts, handicrafts, fairs, festivals and historical movements. A committee of experts will soon be constituted to prepare the revised curriculum. The committee will review the existing NCERT textbooks, adapt them to the context of Himachal Pradesh and prepare supplementary material to provide balanced and locally relevant education. The minister stressed that textbooks from Class 6 to 12 should include references that help students develop a sense of pride and belonging to the state. He emphasised the importance of highlighting freedom fighters like General Zorawar Singh, Wazir Ram Singh Pathania and Dr YS Parmar as well as martyrs like Captain Vikram Batra, Major Somnath Sharma and Captain Saurabh Kalia. “Such inclusion will strengthen students’ bond with the state and also prepare them for competitive exams,” Thakur said. Contemporary issues like disaster management, climate change, green energy and sustainable development will also be included in the new curriculum. “Disaster education should be practical and activity-based so that children can face real-life challenges effectively,” he said. The minister emphasised that changes in the curriculum should enhance learning without increasing the academic burden. He recommended replacing irrelevant chapters with meaningful content and promoting practical learning through workshops, field trips, visual aids and practical exercises instead of rote learning. He also called for promoting local languages. Thakur directed the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to provide open access to educational resources through its website and portal, using QR codes and digital links for easy access. Sharing his views in the meeting, Vice Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University, Professor Mahaveer Singh said that the university is working to improve learning opportunities by combining the cultural heritage of Himachal with modern subjects like disaster management, green energy and skill development. Director Higher Education Dr. Amarjit K. Sharma, Director Samagra Shiksha Project Rajesh Sharma, Director School Education Ashish Kohli and senior officers of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh School Education Board and SCERT were present in the meeting.
