The Himachal Pradesh government has made it mandatory for all schools in the state to sing the national anthem during daily morning assembly sessions.
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: Singing the national anthem will now be a mandatory practice during the morning assembly sessions of all schools– private or state-run– across Himachal Pradesh, the state government announced Tuesday, saying the move aims to “infuse a spirit of patriotism among students”.
The Congress-ruled state has also made it compulsory for all the High and Senior Secondary Schools to unfurl the national flag on the school grounds on a daily basis.
“The government has decided that the national anthem will be recited in the morning assembly sessions in all the schools of the state in order to infuse students with a spirit of patriotism,” an official statement said Tuesday
Besides the above orders, the Himachal Pradesh government has also made Yoga and Physical Education (PE) as compulsory subjects which must be part of every school’s curriculum from now on, the statement said.
“These activities would instil a sense of patriotism among the younger generations fostering a spirit of unity and integrity thereby nurturing them into responsible citizens of the nation,” Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, according to the statement.
Sukhu said the state government was also making strides to improve the physical well-being of students as Physical Education and Yoga would become mandatory subjects in the curriculum, ensuring that the students dedicate at least 15 minutes each day to physical exercise in all the schools.
The chief minister further said that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid would also be provided to students in collaboration with Health and Ayush departments equipping students with vital life-saving skills.
These reforms, Sukhu said, are part of his government’s commitment to provide holistic education that not only focuses on academic excellence but also on physical health, national pride and civic responsibility.
“By integrating these elements into the daily routine of students, the government aims to build a more resilient, united and patriotic future generation”, the statement added.
(With PTI inputs)