Press Release
Press release from Hee-Yangthang Senior Secondary School
Information & Public Relations Department
Gyalshing, October 9 (IPR): Embracing Sikkim’s organic mission in a practical way, Hee–Yangthang Senior Secondary School has set a remarkable example this year through large cardamom cultivation. Established in 1941, the school, which has been continuously progressing in academics, has now integrated agriculture and self-reliance education as an essential part of its curriculum. After achieving success in organic turmeric cultivation last year, the school has this year launched large cardamom farming as its primary project.
Under the leadership of Principal Mr Narayan Basnet, all teachers, staff, and students have united to cultivate cardamom organically within the school premises. The harvest season is currently underway, and students are enthusiastically engaged in plucking cardamom pods. With baskets in their hands and joy on their faces, the lively picture of agricultural education can be seen right in the school garden.
According to Principal Basnet, “Education should not be confined within classroom walls, students must learn life skills and self-reliant thinking within the school itself. That’s why we have linked farming with education.”
From planting and nurturing seedlings to applying organic manure, irrigation, and pest management, students have been actively involved in every stage of the project. Now that the harvest season has arrived, they are also learning the skills of collecting, drying, and storing cardamom. This hands-on experience is helping them gain insights into the agri-industry, entrepreneurship, and practical skill development.
Ms Lina Lepcha, a class 9 student, said, “Earlier, we only read in books that cardamom is Sikkim’s main cash crop. Now, by plucking, touching, and drying it ourselves, we realize how much effort and knowledge it requires. It makes me feel that we too can do something new in our own village in the future.”
The confidence of students like Lina shows that this initiative is not just a project but an investment in the future.
The school has been integrating agricultural education with classroom learning, focusing on eco-friendly thinking, soil conservation, alternatives to chemical fertilizers, and the principles of organic production. This effort has also encouraged enthusiasm among local parents and farmers, who feel proud to see their children gaining such practical skills within the school environment.
Moreover, the school plans to expand community-based agricultural projects such as beekeeping, vegetable cultivation, and medicinal herb production. Thus, Hee-Yangthang School is emerging not merely as an academic institution but as a laboratory of self-reliant education.
With the students’ enthusiasm, teachers’ dedication, and community support, the school is becoming a model of inspiration in Sikkim’s education sector. The fragrance of large cardamom is spreading not only through the school’s courtyard but also igniting a new awareness of self-reliance and organic thinking across Sikkim’s educational landscape.
Under the leadership of Principal Mr Narayan Basnet, all teachers, staff, and students have united to cultivate cardamom organically within the school premises. The harvest season is currently underway, and students are enthusiastically engaged in plucking cardamom pods. With baskets in their hands and joy on their faces, the lively picture of agricultural education can be seen right in the school garden.
According to Principal Basnet, “Education should not be confined within classroom walls, students must learn life skills and self-reliant thinking within the school itself. That’s why we have linked farming with education.”
From planting and nurturing seedlings to applying organic manure, irrigation, and pest management, students have been actively involved in every stage of the project. Now that the harvest season has arrived, they are also learning the skills of collecting, drying, and storing cardamom. This hands-on experience is helping them gain insights into the agri-industry, entrepreneurship, and practical skill development.
Ms Lina Lepcha, a class 9 student, said, “Earlier, we only read in books that cardamom is Sikkim’s main cash crop. Now, by plucking, touching, and drying it ourselves, we realize how much effort and knowledge it requires. It makes me feel that we too can do something new in our own village in the future.”
The confidence of students like Lina shows that this initiative is not just a project but an investment in the future.
The school has been integrating agricultural education with classroom learning, focusing on eco-friendly thinking, soil conservation, alternatives to chemical fertilizers, and the principles of organic production. This effort has also encouraged enthusiasm among local parents and farmers, who feel proud to see their children gaining such practical skills within the school environment.
Moreover, the school plans to expand community-based agricultural projects such as beekeeping, vegetable cultivation, and medicinal herb production. Thus, Hee-Yangthang School is emerging not merely as an academic institution but as a laboratory of self-reliant education.
With the students’ enthusiasm, teachers’ dedication, and community support, the school is becoming a model of inspiration in Sikkim’s education sector. The fragrance of large cardamom is spreading not only through the school’s courtyard but also igniting a new awareness of self-reliance and organic thinking across Sikkim’s educational landscape.