Amid row over CBSE draft norms, Punjab makes Punjabi mandatory in all schools

The Punjab government on Wednesday made Punjabi a mandatory and main subject in all schools across the state, regardless of their education board affiliation.

The notification states that education certificates will be considered null and void without Punjabi as a main subject.

The development follows the sharp criticism over dropping of Punjabi as a regional language in the list of subjects mentioned in the CBSE’s draft norms for Class X board exams; and the board clarifying that the draft norms were only indicative and that no subjects would be dropped.

In the notification issued under Punjab Learning of Punjabi and Other Languages Act, 2008, the education department has said that no student would be declared pass in Class X unless he has studied Punjabi as a main subject.

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains said that earlier schools had been fined for not teaching Punjabi, but now Punjabi as a main subject had been made mandatory in all schools.

The minister said the government imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on a Mohali-based private school, Amity International School, for failing to comply with the Punjab Learning of Punjabi and Other Languages Act, 2008. According to a report of the District Education Officer (Secondary), the school was found to be in violation of the Act, which mandates the teaching of Punjabi as a compulsory subject. Two Jalandhar-based schools were also penalised for violating the act. He said Punjab would bring its own education policy and a committee of experts would be constituted soon for the purpose.

The CBSE move to drop Punjabi in the draft norms has elicited strong reaction from the ruling and opposition parties.

Bains asserted that Punjabi is spoken and read in multiple states, extending its significance beyond Punjab's borders. “Punjabi is not just a language; it is a symbol of our rich cultural heritage, spoken and cherished by millions across the country," he said, adding that he would write to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to fix a responsibility of the officials, who had committed this grave injustice to the state.

SAD leader Sukhbir Badal said, “Punjabi is our mother tongue, spoken and read across various states and many countries worldwide. This attack on our mother tongue will not be tolerated, and the Akali Dal will strongly oppose the move. We demand its immediate restoration and urge all Punjabis to join hands in this fight.”

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said, “Punjabi will remain here. It shows their anti-Punjab mentality. This is a conspiracy against the country. You are not PM of the BJP, but of the country.”

Meanwhile, Democratic Teachers Front president Vikram dev Singh termed it as a move to keep students away from Punjabi.