Punjab Government Mandates Punjabi in Schools Amid Controversy Over CBSE Draft Norms
Chandigarh: The Punjab government has made Punjabi a compulsory subject in all schools across the state, irrespective of their board affiliation. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced that if Punjabi is not included as a main subject in Class 10, the school-leaving certificate will be deemed invalid.
This decision comes in response to concerns that the CBSE’s new draft examination policy had sidelined Punjabi as a regional language. Bains criticized the move, calling it a “deliberate attempt to undermine Punjab, Punjabi, and Punjabiyat.” He pointed out that while CBSE retained foreign languages such as Thai, German, and French, Punjabi was missing from the list of core regional languages.
“Punjabi is not just a language; it represents our rich cultural heritage and is spoken by millions across India,” Bains stated. He also accused the BJP-led central government of disregarding Punjabi, even though it is widely spoken in states like Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
The minister condemned the Punjab BJP’s claim that the omission was a “clerical mistake,” stating that it was an insult to the people of Punjab. He has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, demanding clarity on the issue. Additionally, he announced that Punjab will soon introduce a new state education policy, with an expert committee being formed to oversee the process.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also opposed CBSE’s move, with senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema calling it discriminatory against Punjabis across India. He highlighted that a similar decision had been made earlier in Jammu and Kashmir.
With strong opposition from Punjab’s political and educational leaders, the demand for restoring Punjabi as a regional language option in CBSE schools is growing louder.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
