Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab Education Minister condemns CBSE for dropping Punjabi from board exams
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, February 26, 2025: New Delhi, February 26, 2025 - Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has strongly criticized the CBSE for removing the Punjabi language from the new format of the board examination twice.
He alleged that the CBSE is planning to remove 'Punjabi' as a second language from the 10th and 12th board examinations.
"We strongly oppose the new exam scheme of CBSE, which is trying to eradicate the Punjabi language! Punjabi should be given the status of the main language in Punjab and it should be included in CBSE as a regional language across the country, as it is spoken and studied in many states".
After various political parties in Punjab raised objections to the removal of Punjabi from the proposed plan for CBSE's two-time board examination format, the board issued a clarification on the matter.
The CBSE on Wednesday said that the Punjabi language will be included in the proposed draft of the new scheme next year. Under this scheme, one regional and one foreign language will be mandatory for every student, through which the board exams will be conducted twice.
A senior CBSE official said, "The subjects available today will continue. This was just an indicative list. Next year, Punjabi language will also be in it. All the existing subjects will remain in the CBSE board exams to be held twice."
Earlier, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains had strongly criticized the CBSE for removing Punjabi language from the new format of the board exams twice. He alleged that the CBSE is planning to remove 'Punjabi' as a second language from the 10th and 12th board exams.
"We strongly oppose the new exam scheme of CBSE, which is trying to eradicate the Punjabi language! Punjabi should be given the status of the main language in Punjab and it should be included in CBSE as a regional language across the country, as it is spoken and studied in many states".
Akali leader Bunty Romana also targeted the Centre and said that there is a conspiracy to wipe out Punjabi language. She alleged that "Why did you remove Punjabi from the new course? Is this part of any conspiracy? I want to ask the BJP leaders whether you are also part of this conspiracy? It is a very serious matter that you cannot even fight for your mother tongue? Look at the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, how he is fighting against the New Education Policy (NEP)". The notification issued by CBSE includes Rai, Ourang, Tamang, Sherpa, Sanskrit, Urdu, Marathi, Gujarati, Manipuri, Tibetan, Bhoti, Telugu, Bodo, Tangkhul, Bhutia, Kashmiri, Mizo and Thai languages, but Punjabi was removed from the list of regional languages.
On Tuesday, the CBSE proposed a major change in the examination system for class 10 from the 2025-26 academic session. The decision is in line with the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to reduce academic pressure on students and give them a chance to improve their marks.