Punjabi University reduces duration of Punjabi Language course, teachers condemn

The University faculty has termed the decision as discriminatory and said that the decision was taken during the term of a former VC violated the university’s main objective of promotion of the Punjabi language.

Punjabi University reduces duration of Punjabi Language course

Punjabi University has received strong criticism from various sections for reducing Punjabi language course from a regular three-year subject at graduation level to one year. The University faculty has termed the decision as discriminatory and said that the decision was taken during the term of a former VC violated the university’s main objective of promotion of Punjabi language.

They also said that the University administration had introduced new ‘professional’ and ‘honours’ BCom and BCA courses, in which the tenure of Punjabi subjects had been reduced to only one year.

While speaking on the same, Dr Gurjant Haryau, Professor at the University said, “Lobbies and market forces, at the time of finalization of course material, raise a plea that teaching the language course leaves them with less time to teach the specific professional subject. As such, the teaching period for Punjabi was reduced in some courses. But such a plea is unsubstantiated and is only detrimental to teaching Punjabi language and literature”.

Another faculty member pointed out that the changes had been made to attract students from other states. “Colleges bring in students from other states, even from Nepal, who do not know the language. Instead of teaching them Punjabi, they demand the removal of the language course to suit their market and business interests. Punjabis, meanwhile, prefer European and English languages, hoping it will make it easy for their children to settle abroad”, he said.

VC Prof Arvind said, “The decision was taken before I joined the university. The contention in this is whether the BCA and BCom courses are professional or not. We will see the level at which the decision was taken and will review it.”

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