Students in Australia to learn Punjabi in public schools: ‘Particularly fitting’

Punjabi In Australia: Students in Australia will be offered the option to study Punjabi.

Punjabi language will be added to the curriculum of public schools in Western Australia with the aim to incorporate more languages for students. Students in Australia will be offered the option to study Punjabi as the new curriculum creation for grades pre-primary through 12 will take place, education minister Sue Ellery said.

Punjabi In Australia: Students in Australia will learn Punjabi in schools. (Representational)

"I am pleased to see the ongoing expansion of languages curriculum for WA students, and the development of Punjabi curriculum is particularly fitting given it could support students in key future employment opportunities," Sue Ellery announced.

Diversity in languages provides a major strength for children as it gives social, cultural, and economic advantages, the education minister added. The curriculum for inclusion of Punjabi is being developed currently, she added.

This comes as Punjabi has become the fastest-growing language in the country, reports said as a census taken in 2021 revealed that there’s an 80% rise in Punjabi language speakers in Australia compared to 2016.

Earlier Tamil, Hindi and Korean were added to the curriculum in 2021. Other than Punjabi, Hindi, Koranic, and Tamil have also been added to the curriculum.