Opening a new chapter in Punjab’s academic history, the legislators on Wednesday suggested teaching Government school students A-B-C, along with ura, aira, irri (Punjabi) from the start.
Stressing that knowledge of English language is inevitable to prepare our students to face future challenges, the MlAs maintained that English subject should be taught along with Punjabi language in all Government schools from lower classes.
The views, expressed not only by the MlAs, but also by Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, were put forth during the discussion on the “calling attention motion” moved by Congress MlA Charanjit Singh Channi. He drew the attention of School Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema towards the non-availability of books in Punjabi medium for Class XI and XII students of Science and Medical streams.
Channi argued that due to non-availability of books after studying up to Class X in Punjabi medium resulted in increasing dropout rate as students either leave their studies or they were forced to pursue Arts.
Interestingly, the House, almost five years’ ago, had passed a Bill declaring Punjabi as State’s official language and compulsory in all educational institutions. Now, the same decision appeared to be giving tough time to the State’s Government school students. “This is the situation across Punjab. Students have no base in English,” lamented Atwal.
Even as Minister in-charge Cheema maintained that the books in Punjabi would be made available to the students at the earliest, he pointed that all India exams of medical and engineering were held in English language and that would hamper our students from moving further.
He added that the department is mulling over strengthening the anganwadi centres by working in tandem with the Welfare Department, ‘where students be taught English right from the starting level.’
SAD MlA Pawan Kumar Tinu suggested that English should be made base and should start from the pre-primary classes. Congress MlA Tarlochan Singh Soond opined that instead of admitting students at the age of six in schools, they should be admitted at the age of three or four years on the lines of private schools. Cheema, responding, said that it was right to Education Act that says that student be admitted at six years’ of age.