CHANDIGARH: The Haryana, Government last week, decided to introduce teaching of Punjabi from sixth class in schools all over the state. The language would best taught even if one student in x class wanted to study it.
Briefing media persons after Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, said the decision, which would be implemented in the ensuing academic session, fulfilled the longstanding demand for making Punjabi the “second language”’ in Haryana. The government would soon recruit 500 Punjabi teachers so that at least, one teacher was posted in each school. So far, Punjabi was taught as one of the optional languages, along with Sanskrit, Urdu and Telugu if a minimum of 10 students in a class wanted to study it. Bhajan Lal explained that Hindi, which was taught from first class, was the first language in the stat while English, which was taught from sixth class, was the second’ language. “Our decision makers Punjabi the second language because it will be taught along with English, even if one student wants to study it,” he said, Asked about the status of Sanskrit, Urdu and Telugu now, the Chief Minister said these languages would also be taught from “These will also be taught along with English,” the Chief Minister said.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 21, 1995
