Mission Public School District (MPSD) is gauging the public’s interest in a potential Punjabi Language course for students.
An information session will be hosted at the Hatzic Middle School cafeteria next Wednesday (May 8) at 6:30 p.m.
The potential Punjabi course would be offered as an alternative to French. The B.C. curriculum’s second language instruction begins for students in grade five.
MPSD shared an online form for parents to fill out to express interest in the course. It asks for details on the student’s name, grade, school and interest in the program with an option for additional comments.
At a Board of Education meeting in April 2023, MPSD trustee Jash Bains brought the motion forward to look into Punjabi language classes for local schools.
Bains said at the time that adding Punjabi classes was a common request during her election campaign because of the difficulty that comes with teaching the language at home.
Other districts in the Lower Mainland already offer Punjabi language classes. Both Abbotsford and Surrey offer classes for grades five through 12 in certain schools and Surrey used to offer immersion classes.
READ MORE: Mission Public Schools to consider offering Punjabi language classes