In a bold move to counter the "well-planned conspiracy" of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to marginalise regional languages by bringing out the new exam pattern, Punjab government, on Wednesday, took a lead by issuing a notification making Punjabi a mandatory main subject in all schools across the state, regardless of their educational board affiliation.
The notification states that education certificates will be considered as null and void without Punjabi as a main subject.Notably, the CBSE was quick to issue a clarification after S. Harjot Singh Bains lashed out the new exam pattern for its marginalisation of the Punjabi language.
While addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, on Wednesday evening, S. Harjot Singh 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 the current situation was an attempt to erase Punjabi from the educational landscape.
Demanding the action for ignoring Punjabi in a draft education policy, S. Bains said that he would write a letter to Union Education Minister Sh. Dharmendra Pradhan to fix a responsibility of concerned officials, who had committed this grave injustice to the state.
He said that the CBSE must understand that this is not a matter of choice, but a matter of national importance. This is a blatant disregard for the rights of states & federal structure, and a direct assault on our nation’s linguistic diversity.
“We can’t tolerate this blatant attempt to impose a singular narrative on our nation,” the Education Minister asserted, while adding, “We demand that the CBSE respect the federal structure of India and ensure that all languages, including Punjabi, are given the prominence they deserve.”
Underscoring the Punjab government’s firm stance of ensuring Punjabi remains an integral part of the state’s educational framework, S. Harjot Singh Bains shared that the Punjab 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 this act.He further shared that Punjab will bring a own education policy and a committee of experts will be constituted soon for this purpose.