The Punjab government has moved to make Punjabi a compulsory subject for all schools across the state. This announcement follows objections raised by Punjab's Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains regarding the exclusion of the Punjabi language from the CBSE's new draft scheme.
CBSE Board Exam 2025 Twice Controversy: In response to the controversy surrounding the absence of Punjabi in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)'s draft policy for conducting board exams twice a year, the Punjab government has moved to make Punjabi a compulsory subject for all schools across the state. This announcement follows objections raised by Punjab's Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains regarding the exclusion of the Punjabi language from the CBSE's new draft scheme.
Punjab Government’s Decision: Punjabi Becomes Compulsory
In a statement shared on X, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains confirmed that the Punjab government has issued a notification making Punjabi language a mandatory subject in all schools in the state, regardless of the board they are affiliated with. He added, “The Punjab government has made it mandatory to teach Punjabi as a core and compulsory subject in all schools in the state, irrespective of which board they are affiliated to. A notification in this regard has been issued today.”
The school education department has given clear instructions that no student shall be declared passed in Class 10 without having studied Punjabi. Punjabi will be taught as the primary language in all schools across Punjab, and strict action will be taken against any institution found violating these instructions. This decision is in alignment with the Punjab Act of 2008 regarding the education of Punjabi and other languages.
Criticism of CBSE's Exclusion of Punjabi Language
Earlier, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains voiced his objection to the exclusion of the Punjabi language in the CBSE's draft scheme for biannual board exams. In a video shared on social media, Bains expressed strong disapproval, stating, "We strongly object to the CBSE's new exam pattern scheme, which attempts to erase Punjabi. Punjabi must be designated as the main language in Punjab and, further, be included as a regional language for the rest of the nation as it is spoken and read across multiple states. Any attack on Punjabi will not be tolerated."
CBSE's Clarification on Punjabi Language
In response to the criticism from Punjab's political leaders, the CBSE clarified that the draft scheme is indicative, and no subject would be dropped. A senior CBSE official told ANI that there would be no change in the subjects offered this year. The official confirmed, “Next year, the Punjabi language examination will be there. All subjects offered today will continue in two board examinations next year."
Telangana Government Mandates Telugu as a Compulsory Subject
In a similar move, the Telangana government has mandated Telugu as a compulsory subject for students from Class 1 to Class 10 in all schools starting from the 2025-26 academic session. This order mirrors Punjab's decision to preserve and promote regional languages within educational frameworks.
Key Features of CBSE’s Draft Scheme for 2025
The CBSE Draft Norms for conducting the Class 10 board exams twice a year were approved on February 25. Under the proposed scheme, students will have the option to take the CBSE board exam twice within the academic year—one in February and another in May—and they can choose between the two. Students may also appear for both phases if they wish.
The National Education Policy recommended this dual exam approach to reduce the "high stakes" nature of board exams, allowing students to skip specific subjects in the second attempt if they are satisfied with their performance in the first phase.
Finalizing the Policy
The draft norms are now open for public feedback, and stakeholders have until March 9 to submit their comments. After the review period, the policy will be finalized by CBSE.
Summary of Key Points:
- Punjab Government makes Punjabi a compulsory subject for all schools in the state.
- Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains criticizes CBSE’s exclusion of Punjabi from its draft exam scheme.
- CBSE clarifies that no subjects will be dropped from the 2025 exam; Punjabi will be included next year.
- Telangana mandates Telugu as a compulsory subject from the 2025-26 academic session.
- CBSE's new draft policy allows students to take board exams twice a year, with flexibility in subject choices.
With these developments, both the Punjab and Telangana governments are ensuring that regional languages like Punjabi and Telugu continue to play an integral role in the education system, despite challenges posed by national-level exam reforms.
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