Bonjour, Sat Sri Akal: Punjab govt schools vibe with multilingualism
According to a reply by the Union ministry of education in the Lok Sabha to a question by Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi, the state has - despite the multilingual push - continued to reaffirm its commitment to mother tongue-based foundational learning, using Punjabi as the medium of instruction in early grades Alongside Punjabi, students may opt for Hindi and English, ensuring exposure to both national and international languages.
Classroom instruction, particularly at the upper-primary and secondary levels, is delivered bilingually, said the reply.
Students could choose their preferred medium from Punjabi, Hindi, or English, it said. In line with its multilingual efforts, Punjab has introduced Sanskrit, French, German, and Urdu as optional subjects at the senior secondary level. To support this environment, the state developed and disseminated teaching-learning materials in Punjabi, Hindi, and English, along with translated teacher training modules and digital content to aid educators in multilingual delivery.
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Punjab also leveraged national digital platforms such as Diksha (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) and PM e-Vidya initiative, under which five dedicated TV channels were approved for state to ensure digital and online access to students and teachers. On assessments, the state adopted evaluations based on learning outcomes and participated in National Achievement Survey (NAS). The state also implemented the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) Scheme in 347 schools.
In the 2025-26 financial year, the central govt allocated a total of Rs 1,656.6 crore to Punjab under two key centrally sponsored schemes-Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI-to support the implementation of NEP.
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