With a vision to hone the creative skills of students and to connect them with the culture of Punjab, the state government on Wednesday decided that historical, cultural and heritage related activities would be made part of the syllabus at primary and high school level.
During a meeting presided over by Cultural Affairs and Tourism minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Higher Education, School Education-cum-Languages minister Aruna Chaudhary it was also decided that the government will conduct excursions of the students to the historical places.
Disclosing this, an official spokesperson said that it was decided that the subject of Punjab, History and Culture would also be taught practically to the students and marks would be allotted for this.
On the occasions of historical importance eminent personalities would interact with the students through Educational Satellite (EDUSAT) programme being run for the students.
The meeting also decided that a circuit would be formed for conducting the historical, heritage and cultural tours of the school students and in this endeavour the universities of the concerned area would render all possible assistance.
It was also decided to have meetings of the elementary, secondary and higher education officials at regular intervals for better co-ordination regarding uniformity in the syllabus from school, college to university
level.
Other suggestions forwarded in the meeting included improvement in the quality of text books, encouraging Punjabi speaking in schools, waging ‘Virsa Sambhal Punjabia’ movement aimed at taking immense pride in Punjabi culture, and restructuring of the languages department for giving fillip to cultural activities.
The committee would give its report within three weeks, which would be considered in the next meeting during the first week of May by both the ministers.