The inclusion of regional languages

In a first, K-P will be introducing regional languages such as Saraiki, Hindko and Khowar in all government schools. This is an excellent development and it is hoped that it sets a precedent and becomes a source of motivation for other provinces to give due importance to the languages of their area. The inclusion of regional languages in the school curricula has been pending for years now -the last Awami National Party-led government had introduced five regional languages in 2012 as compulsory in all educational institutions up to intermediate level, but the programme had to come to a halt because there were not enough textbooks. Schools around Pakistan, particularly public schools, have long denied languages the space and importance they deserve. Although the inclusion of regional languages is meant for public schools in K-P, it is hoped that private schools will also follow suit and make their education culturally diverse. A student must be comfortable speaking his or her mother tongue in school so they can at least openly question, discuss and debate. But in Pakistan not only is the mother tongue strongly discouraged as both the medium of instruction and as a subject, children are often not even allowed to speak in their language with their friends and peers. The impact has grave trickle down effects where children grow up ashamed of their language as opposed to being proud of it. Pakistan is still believed to have nearly 72 regional and major languages, including Urdu and English, and at least 10 of them have been classified as “in trouble” or “near extinction.” For instance, there are no newspapers or magazines published in Punjabi for the 60 million-plus Punjabi speakers or so.

Pakistan has always institutionally denied people their culture and heritage and we have faced grave consequences as a result. It is surely time to change for we only strengthen as a society when we allow people to grow in their cultural and linguistic heritage.


Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2017.