It ensures that students are exposed to the artistic traditions, heritage, and creative expressions of Punjab.
Punjab Revamps School Art Curriculum After 40 Years to Preserve Local Heritage
The Punjab school art curriculum and textbooks are set to undergo a major overhaul for the first time in nearly 40 years. This move is aimed at revitalising art education and anchoring it in local culture and heritage.
Officials from the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Punjab, have initiated the process to update art education across the state’s government schools. According to SCERT sources, the decision stems from a long-felt requirement to enrich students’ understanding of their immediate cultural environment and to foster holistic development instead of relying on outdated content that has remained unchanged for decades.
As a part of these reforms, art education will place greater emphasis on local and cultural art forms. It ensures that students are exposed to the artistic traditions, heritage, and creative expressions of Punjab. A special committee is constituted for this purpose. It has highlighted the importance of reviving indigenous art practices and weaving them into classroom learning in a way that is both research-backed and culturally relevant.
Dr Amarpal Singh, Punjab School Education Board Chairperson, has publicly highlighted the need to view art as an integral part of the broader educational experience rather than viewing it just as a standalone subject. Dr Singh said that integrating art across disciplines can enhance creativity, strengthen cultural identity among students, and support a meaningful, experiential learning process.
According to experts, the changes will align Punjab’s art curriculum with contemporary pedagogical practices. They will ensure that young learners benefit from updated textbooks that reflect both artistic heritage and updated educational standards. Officials have indicated that the curriculum redesign will be systematic and collaborative, involving educators and art specialists across the state.
The reform marks a significant policy shift in Punjab’s education system, reflecting broader efforts to make classroom learning more culturally rooted, creatively engaging, and relevant to 21st-century students.
Source: The Tribune
