To further the vision of connecting the children of Punjab with the extremely rich historical and cultural heritage of the state and to hone their creative skills as per the vision of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led government, the first ever meeting was here today presided over by the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu and Higher Education, School Education and Languages Minister Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary in which the officers of all the 3 departments were also present.Disclosing this, an official spokesman said that it was decided in the meeting that in order to hone the creative skills of the students and connect them with the culture of Punjab, historical, cultural and heritage related activities would be made part of the syllabus at primary and high school level besides conducting excursions of the students to the historical places. 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 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 coordination 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. A 5 member committee was formed including Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education) Mr. S.K. Sandhu, Chairman Punjab Kala Parishad Padamshri Dr. Surjit Patar, Chairman Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Mr. Manohar Kant Kalohia, Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala Prof. B.S. Ghuman, and Vice Chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar Dr. Jaspal Singh Sandhu (all of whom were also present in today's meeting) to prepare a draft based on the suggestions received and submit the same for the approval of cabinet. The committee would give its report within 3 weeks which would be considered in the next meeting during the first week of May by both the ministers.
Among others present in the meeting were included Director, Languages Gursharan Kaur Walia, Secretary General Punjab Kala Parishad Dr. Lakhwinder Singh Johal and Director Youth Welfare Panjab University Chandigarh Dr. Nirmal Jaura.