Punjab Schools to Compulsorily Teach Punjabi

The Punjab government has made it mandatory for all schools in the state, irrespective of their educational board, to teach Punjabi as a main and compulsory subject. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced this decision through a new notification, which takes effect immediately. This initiative guarantees that Punjabi will be a fundamental component of school curricula across various boards, including PSEB, CBSE, and CISCE. The decision comes in response to worries about the reported removal of Punjabi from the CBSE’s Class 10 regional language list.

Key Highlights of the Decision

The Punjab government has made it mandatory for all schools to teach Punjabi as a core subject for Class 10, regardless of their board affiliation.

• This rule applies to Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), CBSE, and CISCE schools.
• Certificates of students will be considered null and void if Punjabi is not included as a main subject.
• The Punjab Learning of Punjabi and Other Languages Act, 2008, will be strictly enforced, with penalties for non-compliance.
• Private schools violating the Act have been fined ₹50,000 each for non-compliance.