Community calls to have Punjabi language taught in Queensland schools

As per the latest census figures, over 33,000 Punjabi speakers call Queensland their home. With Punjabi emerging as the fastest-growing language spoken in Australia, the Queensland community demands to include the language as a subject in the school curriculum.

The Punjabi language is reigning in Australia, with more than 239,000 people speaking it at home, an increase of over 80 per cent.

The humming Punjabi community of Queensland is planning to raise the level of the Punjabi language to higher horizons.

With a sharp increase of Punjabi speakers, community leaders and educationists in the state are pushing for the Punjabi language to be taught in schools.

Harvinder Kaur Sidhu, a senior teacher with Queensland Education Department. Credit: Harvinder Kaur Sidhu

Harvinder Kaur Sidhu, a senior educationist with the state education department, told SBS Punjabi, "We as a community want Punjabi to be included as a subject in Queensland public schools".

"To raise awareness on this subject and to bring it to the notice of authorities, the community has started an online petition," she says.

While the largest number of Punjabi speakers live in Victoria, followed by NSW, Queensland has become the third largest state to host over 33 thousand Punjabis.

Ms Sidhu further says, “Our initiative needs support and guidance from the Punjabi community in Victoria and NSW who already have Punjabi as a subject in some of their public schools."

"We have started an

online petition

for the inclusion of Punjabi in P-10 curriculum in Queensland schools."

"We also request the Punjabi diaspora living all over Australia to support our initiative of inclusion of Punjabi in the Queensland schools," she adds.

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