The Punjab government is planning to introduce English as the medium of instruction in over 400 primary schools, with an aim to improve the existing educational standards in the state.
On Thursday, Aruna Chaudhary, state education minister said the government was considering the introduction of English from Class 1 in primary schools quite seriously. She also added that this will bring government schools at par with the English-medium schools, as parents prefer sending their wards to the latter.
“However, it will not be binding on students. They will have the option of studying in either Punjabi or English medium. Those interested in Punjabi as a medium of instruction can continue with it,” she said.
She was speaking at a two-day workshop of northern states on innovation and best practices in Punjab, wherein she said that the education department had sent a proposal to the finance department asking for funds for the plan. They were awaiting its response.
Recently, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has also given his consent for the introduction of English from Class 1 in the state-run schools. The state has 13,000 primary schools.
The workshop was organised by the Union ministry of human resource development, in collaboration with the Punjab government, to promote novel strategies in school education. It was inaugurated by Union minister of state for HRD Upendra Kushwaha. Officials of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh also participated in the workshop.
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