Punjabi Should Be Mandatory in Schools from Nursery…

Punjab: Akal Takht’s officiating Jathedar has urged the Punjab government to make Punjabi a mandatory subject in schools from the nursery level. Emphasizing the importance of preserving and promoting the Punjabi language, he stated that the government must take strict measures to ensure its implementation across all educational institutions in the state.

Speaking at a gathering, the Jathedar highlighted that despite Punjabi being the official language of Punjab, its prominence in the education system is gradually declining. He expressed concern over the growing preference for English and Hindi in schools, which he believes is negatively impacting the cultural and linguistic heritage of the state. He called upon the Punjab government to enforce laws that would make it compulsory for all schools, including private institutions, to teach Punjabi as a primary subject from the earliest grades.

The Jathedar also mentioned that neglecting the Punjabi language would weaken the state’s identity and disconnect future generations from their roots. He stressed that Punjabi is not just a language but a crucial part of Punjab’s history, culture, and heritage. He urged educational policymakers to take immediate steps to safeguard the language by integrating it more effectively into the school curriculum.

This appeal comes amid concerns that Punjabi is being sidelined in favor of other languages in many private schools. While government schools do follow a Punjabi-based curriculum, many private institutions give more importance to English and other regional languages, which has led to a decline in Punjabi’s usage among the younger generation. Experts and language activists have repeatedly demanded that strict measures be implemented to promote Punjabi in education.

In response to the Jathedar’s statement, several Punjabi scholars and cultural organizations have expressed their support for the move. They believe that making Punjabi mandatory from nursery onwards would help strengthen the language’s presence and encourage students to embrace their linguistic heritage. Many have also pointed out that neighboring states have been actively promoting their regional languages, and Punjab should take similar steps to ensure the preservation of its linguistic identity.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has yet to make an official statement regarding the demand. However, discussions on the matter have been ongoing, with various stakeholders pushing for stronger policies to promote Punjabi in schools. The government’s response will be crucial in determining whether the demand is implemented and how it will be enforced across different educational boards in the state.

As the debate over language education in Punjab continues, many hope that decisive action will be taken to secure the future of Punjabi as an essential part of the state’s educational framework. The coming weeks may see increased pressure on the government to take concrete steps to address the concerns raised by Akal Takht and language preservation advocates.