Peden Hill Elementary School in Prince George, British Columbia, has recently gone viral online. The Canadian educational institution has launched a new after-school Punjabi-language program, forging connections between staff members, students, and their families.
Program Origins and Purpose
School principal Nicole Polhuis created the program after parents approached her, worried that their children would be disconnected from their Punjabi culture and language. "Peden Hill has about a 40 per cent Indo-Canadian population, many of whom are Punjabi speaking at home, with a range of fluency levels within our students," she said. The school decided to start an after-school program to gauge student interest, and they expressed interest "right away."
Grade 4 student Mehnoor Dhaliwal, who speaks Punjabi at home and participates in the program, said, "I really like how they're introducing this language to everybody. I really feel welcome here."
Bringing Families Closer
The Punjabi classes started in April and run once a week on Mondays until the end of the school year. The program is led by Kamaljeet Saini, a fluent Punjabi speaker and educational assistant at the school who moved from India to Canada in 2023. She agreed to lead the program because she had met many people in the Sikh and Punjabi communities who wanted to teach their children Punjabi. "I think it's necessary because there is a gap between kids and their grandparents," she said. "Students are speaking in English, so how will they converse with their grandparents, because they are Punjabi speaking?"
The classes include a mix of Punjabi and non-Punjabi learners, including school staff members. While the program is currently open to Grade 4 and 5 students, Polhuis hopes to expand it to more grades next year, depending on the response and progress.
Online Backlash and Controversy
While the school's decision to accommodate the Punjabi community has been appreciated by some, it has received massive backlash from Canadian natives on social media. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "I honestly don't get the point of schools teaching any other language but European languages - maybe Mandarin, Arabic and Russian. But only business world languages. No one needs Hindi or Punjabi." Another added, "I didn't get Italian lessons to connect with my culture. Punjabis!!!! Speak English!" A third claimed, "This is Canada not India. Take a flight back home. Canada doesn't have to accommodate your mother's tongue in Canada. Everyone who comes to Canada has made sacrifices or just don't bother coming at all. Simple."
Punjabi's Growing Presence in Canada
According to a 2021 census report by Statistics Canada, Punjabi has become the fourth most spoken language in the country, registering a 49% growth in the past five years. With schools introducing Punjabi language classes, the language may be further propagated among Canadian residents of Punjabi heritage. While the course is optional for natives, it remains a topic of immigrant-native contention.
