Latest news with #BharatiyaBhashaSummerCamp
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Teacher brings Telugu to life with nursery rhyme in school
After the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) asked schools to teach the basics of Telugu under the Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp, Karamjeet Singh Grewal, a government schoolteacher in Ludhiana, went a step ahead as he made students sing a Telugu nursery rhyme. His initiative became the highlight of the Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp that commenced across the state schools on Thursday. Grewal, who teaches Punjabi at Government High School, Kheri Jhameri, taught his class 7 and 8 students a Telugu nursery rhyme called 'Cheeni Cheeni Papa Aalu'. The students sang the song with perfect pronunciation and rhythm. They even recorded a video of their performance and uploaded it to YouTube where it received praise from people across India, including native Telugu speakers. As per the PSEB directions, students are to be taught simple Telugu alphabet, colour names, basic sentences and greetings. But Grewal decided to go a step further. 'I want the children to enjoy the process, not just learn the words,' said Grewal. 'Because of my connection with the Scouts and Guides fellowship, I contacted some friends from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They helped me choose a meaningful Telugu rhyme and explained its cultural background. I then composed a simple tune to go with it.' The rhyme became an instant hit in the classroom. After just two days of practice, the students were able to sing the rhyme confidently. Grewal's passion for music started in his childhood, when he would sing devotional songs during village morning processions called 'Prabhat Pheris' in Lalton Kalan, Ludhiana. He went on to earn a master's degree in music and has written and composed over 800 songs for children in various Indian languages. In addition to Telugu, he has recorded nursery rhymes in Tamil, Gujarati and Assamese. He now aims to create nursery rhymes in all 24 official Indian languages and eventually branch out into foreign languages too. 'Music is a wonderful way to learn. It brings people together and makes learning joyful,' he said. Grewal has been recognised at both the state and national levels. He received a state award in 2009 and a national teaching award in 2013. In 2022, during India's 75th Independence anniversary celebrations, he won the top prize in a national lullaby contest for a patriotic Punjabi lori (lullaby). His efforts have been praised not just for creativity but for promoting India's cultural unity. At a time when many children struggle to learn new languages, Grewal has shown that music can act as a bridge between regions and cultures. He believes teachers can make a huge difference when given the freedom to innovate. 'If we teach with love and creativity, children will naturally develop interest,' he said. 'Learning a language is like opening a door to someone's culture—and children are the best ambassadors of that idea.'
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Telugu camp concludes amid mixed reaction from teachers
Aimed at promoting cultural exchange between Punjab and Andhra Pradesh The week-long Telugu language classes held across Punjab government schools under the Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp wrapped up on Thursday, but not without raising eyebrows among educators and experts. While the initiative, driven by the Union ministry of education, aimed to promote cultural exchange between Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, many teachers believe the focus should have been on strengthening Punjabi skills, especially for migrant students who continue to lag. According to Punjab School Education Board results for 2024-25, over 1,500 students from Class 10 and 386 from Class 8 across the state, did not qualify Punjabi exam, despite it being their primary language. The concern, teachers say, isn't about resisting multilingualism, but prioritising basics before diversifying. Dharamjeet Singh Dhillon, district president of the Lecturer Cadre Union, questioned the timing and relevance of teaching Telugu. 'Migrant children struggle with Punjabi. They live and work here, why not focus on their proficiency in the state's language first? Instead of a central gimmick, we needed classes that strengthen academic foundations,' he said. Still, not everyone echoed this sentiment. Charanjeet Kaur Ahuja, principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Cemetery Road, called the programme 'refreshing and insightful'. She said, 'Teachers learnt Telugu via video modules and brought those lessons alive in classrooms. Students not only learnt greetings and songs, but even prepared Andhra cuisine, it truly brought cultural learning to life.' The students also seemed enthusiastic. 'We made Telugu charts, sang songs and interacted in a new language, it was fun and different,' said a Class 8 student. Another student shared how the experience transported them into the heart of Andhra Pradesh in just seven days. Responding to concerns about Punjabi proficiency, Ahuja added that the government's Mission Samrath initiative is already addressing this gap, helping underperforming students, particularly migrants, strengthen their language skills. District education officer (secondary) Dimple Madan did not respond despite several attempts.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Summer vacation in Punjab schools from June 2-30: Minister Harjot Singh Bains
All schools in Punjab, including government, private and aided, will be closed for summer vacations from June 2 to 30. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, in a post on X, said, 'In view of the heatwave in Punjab, all Government, Aided, Recognized, and Private schools in the state will remain closed for summer vacation from June 2 to June 30, 2025.' Even as summer vacations have been announced from June 2 to 30, some schools in the state might remain open for a week or so during this period as schools are planning summer camps to engage children in fun activities, according to officials. In view of the heatwave in Punjab, all Government, Aided, Recognized, and Private schools in the state will remain closed for summer vacation from June 2 to June 30, 2025. — Harjot Singh Bains (@harjotbains) May 26, 2025 In a separate order, the government has also directed schools to arrange a week long language camp for classes 6 to 10 where Punjab students will learn basic Telugu language while their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh will learn Punjabi under Centre's Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp initiative to promote multilingualism. Earlier, on May 8, all educational institutions in Punjab were closed for three days, given the India-Pakistan military conflict following Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian armed forces targeting terror infrastructure across the border after May 6 midnight. In retaliation for Operation Sindoor, Pakistan resorted to shelling and drone attacks across India's northwest border states, including Punjab, for three days before the ceasefire brought relative calm to the region. Later, all educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, in the state, except those in border districts reopened on May 12. This was after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. Schools in border districts Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar and Gurdaspur, remained closed as per the orders issued by respective deputy commissioners. They were later reopened after a few days in a staggered manner.
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Govt school students in Punjab to learn Telugu during week-long ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp'
CHANDIGARH: In a bid to help students acquire basic conversational skills in an Indian language of their choice, other than mother tongue, the students from classes VI to X in government schools of Punjab will be learning basics Telugu language during a week-long 'Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp', as per a direction issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy in Union Ministry of Education. As per the instructions issued by State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to all the district educational officers, the summer camp will be held in all government schools across the state from May 26 to June 5 in which students from Classes VI to X will participate and Telugu language will be taught. "The main objective is to encourage students to learn one more Indian language of their choice, to promote multilingualism in a joyful and engaging manner, to help students experience the linguistic and cultural unity of Indian languages and to enable students to acquire basic conversational skills in an Indian language of their choice other than mother tongue,'' reads the letter issued on May 23. These Telugu classes will be conducted after the half-holiday on working school days and from 8 am to 11 am during the summer vacation from May 26 to June 5. The schools have been allowed have multiple batches depending on number of students who are interested and the availability of teachers. While schools which have less than 75 students can hold this camp as a single group and others can form three groups with up to 100 students in total. The basics will include greeting, expressions, alphabets, numbers, songs and conversations, names of local heroes, freedom fighters, armed forces, fruits, cuisines, vegetables and cultural appreciation in Telugu.
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Students to learn basic Telugu at week-long ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp' in Punjab
The students of classes 6 to 10 in Punjab government schools are set to learn the basics of Telugu language during a week-long 'Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp', as per a direction issued by the Union Ministry of Education. In an order issued to all the district education officers (DEOs) on Friday, State Council of Educational Research and Training Director Amaninder Kaur Brar said 'the Camp this year will be held in schools for the students of classes 6 to 10 to learn the basics of Telugu'. The main objective is that students obtain basic knowledge of an additional language, besides those in their school curriculum, the letter read. The Telugu classes have to be conducted in physical mode, it said, adding multiple batches can be held depending on the 'number of students interested' and 'availability of teachers'. According to the letter, the initiative is aimed at 'making students learn an additional Indian language of their choice, enable them to acquire basic conversational skills in a language apart from their mother tongue, promote multilingualism among them in a joyful and engaging manner, help them experience the linguistic and cultural unity of Indian languages'. Language school teachers (English, Hindi or Punjabi) will be leading the students' groups — being in-charges of the project. If required, arts or music or other subject teachers can also lead the camp, the order read. 'Teachers can use YouTube links for reference,' it added. The order further said the camp has to be held between May 26 and June 5 (tentatively). 'However, school heads can select dates as per their convenience, during summer vacations.' According to the curriculum provided by the Union ministry, the basics will include alphabets, numbers, greetings, expressions, conversations, songs (art/ dance/ music), names of local cuisines/ fruits/ veggies as well as local heroes/ armed forces/ freedom fighters, and cultural appreciation in Telugu.
