CHANDIGARH, May 24:
In a momentous occasion marking a new milestone for Punjab and its global diaspora, the students of Andhra Pradesh Government Schools will learn basics of Punjabi language under a 5-day exchange program to promote cultural exchange, linguistic diversity and foster national unity, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of School Education, Punjab.
S. Harjot Singh Bains informed that Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have been paired under the program as per directives from the Union Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education and Literacy. As part of the exchange, students from classes VI to X in Punjab government schools will learn the basics of Telugu, while Andhra Pradesh government schools will reciprocate by teaching Punjabi to their students.
The Education Minister said that this pan-India initiative has seen diverse state pairings, including J&K and Ladakh with Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh with Kerala, Uttarakhand with Karnataka, Haryana with Telangana, Rajasthan with Assam, Gujarat with Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra with Odisha, Goa with Jharkhand, Delhi with Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh with Manipur & Nagaland, UP with Arunachal Pradesh & Meghalaya and Bihar with Tripura & Mizoram, showcasing the program’s extensive reach and cultural exchange potential.
This initiative aims to encourage students to learn an additional Indian language, promoting multilingualism and appreciation for regional cultures, the Education Minister said, while emphasising the importance of preserving regional languages and cultures.
S. Harjot Singh Bains asserted that the importance of Punjabi, as the mother tongue and official language of the state, would not be undermined, while dismissing the objections raised on the Summer Camp as ‘mere politicking’.
He slammed those who rush to media for headlines without proper understanding of any issue. He reminded them of the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s bold step to counter CBSE’s attempt to marginalise regional languages. Notably, Punjab had taken a pioneering step by making Punjabi a mandatory subject in all schools, regardless of their board affiliation.
The Education Minister added that the summer camp aims to promote multilingualism and cultural unity by encouraging students to learn an additional Indian language. The program will focus on developing basic conversational skills, exploring linguistic and cultural connections, and fostering a sense of national unity through joyful learning experiences. Students will learn fundamentals such as greetings, expressions, alphabets, numbers, songs, and conversations, as well as aspects of local culture, history and traditions.
