Punjabi education in Malaysia has gone through a remarkable transformation in just three decades.

Bringing back Punjabi language from the brink of fading away in the mid-1990s is a programme that boasts its own locally developed textbooks from kindergarten right up to Form Five.

Spearheaded by Khalsa Diwan Malaysia (KDM), its president Jaginder Singh Raipatti said the impact of this initiative’s success could be seen in the students’ academic performance.

“This year, 66 students are slated to sit for the SPM Punjabi paper, a record number.

“Pass rates consistently exceed 90%, with between 60% and 70% of students scoring A+, A and A- grades,” he said.

Part of the Khalsa Diwan Malaysia office building with a centennial commemorative stone, which recognisesKDM as the first national Sikh society registered in the country. Classes for the Punjabi education programme are held on the premises every Saturday. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star

In May, this Punjabi education programme marked its 25th anniversary.

To ensure its continued success, Jaginder said an inspection and coaching system had been implemented, including mentoring teachers and guiding Punjabi Education Centres (PECs) on ways to improve academic delivery and student outcomes.

“The teaching force, mostly comprising highly qualified women from Punjab in India who married Malaysians, has been instrumental in the programme’s success.

“About 90% of classes are now held in gurdwaras, many of which are designed with dedicated Punjabi education floors,” he said.

Road to revival

By the late 1990s, Jaginder said Punjabi language education in the country was in crisis.

He said with the temporary removal of the Punjabi paper from the then Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) from 1993 to 1995 and shrinking number of students sitting for the Punjabi paper in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) around the same time, it became clear that the language was at risk of fading away.

An undated image of teachers at Guru Nanak Institution, which was once a private school in Ipoh. — Courtesy photo

He added that KDM called a meeting with Sikh non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and gurdwara management committees across the country in 2000.

The groups agreed to give KDM the mandate to revive Punjabi education under a unified umbrella.

As such, Jaginder said the Punjabi education programme was born in 2001.

And now, 36 PECs currently operate in 11 states, along with about 200 teachers and 1,800 students.

He noted that the PECs initially struggled with a lack of trained teachers, textbooks, funding and even venues.

But support from Singaporean Sikh counterparts, he said, helped lay the groundwork in terms of textbooks.

“Today, the locally developed textbooks are reviewed every few years and the curriculum is further enriched with the inclusion of Sikh religious studies.”

Jaginder explained that until 2009, education funding relied entirely on community support.

Vaisakhi High-Tea event at Guru Nanak Institution hall. — Courtesy photo

Nevertheless, he said a turning point came with a RM2mil federal grant, followed by more government funding, especially through the Social Economic Development of the Indian Community (Sedic) and Malay-sian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) from 2016 to 2019.

“However, between 2020 and 2023, KDM did not receive any federal funding."

In 2024, KDM received RM30,000 while Perak PECs received RM36,000 from the RM200,000 given by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Perak Vasakhi Open House 2024.

“Recently, a RM265,000 grant from the Prime Minister’s Office and support from several state governments have given us renewed hope.

“Additionally, the Sikh community is becoming more self-reliant, with centres now generating income through well-wishers and student fees.”

Jaginder said a milestone in the PEC journey was the integration of Punjabi language into national school assessments.

It is listed as a subject under the Academic Session Final Test (UASA) for Form One to Form Three and KDM plays a role in preparing, distributing and marking these exam papers.

He said KDM was now preparing to roll out standardised e-lessons by next year, which would ease teachers’ weekly workloads and enhance resource sharing across centres.

Jaginder showing a map where Punjabi Education Centres are located in the country.

Cultural resurgence

Jaginder observed that there had been renewed interest in cultural engagement as well in recent years.

“Youth participation in religious activities such as kirtan (devotional hymns), tabla playing and prayers has surged, creating a new generation of Sikhs who are deeply connected to their linguistic and spiritual roots.

“With the Punjabi language ‘alive again’, we are now focusing on sustaining it for future generations,” he elaborated.

KDM, he said, also worked closely with other Sikh NGOs, notably the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council, Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia and Gurbani Naad, which organise competitions, quizzes, public speaking events and Sikh spiritual camps.

Jaginder said to preserve and promote traditional Punjabi music, KDM provided space at its premises for weekly stringed instrument classes such as dilruba (bowed musical instrument), expanding beyond the classical tabla and harmonium.

He said KDM provided monthly financial aid to about a dozen recipients until 2023, but to reduce overlap with other NGOs, the organisation shifted its focus the following year to a case-by-case basis, focusing on urgent and verified needs.

“KDM is also actively involved in state cultural events, whereby in 2024, the organisation co-hosted the Perak Vaisakhi Open House with Guru Kalgidhar Diwan.

“It is frequently consulted by the Education Ministry, particularly on the accuracy of materials related to the Punjabi community,” he added.

Jaginder said KDM also defended the rights of Sikh school students, from wearing the kara (steel bangle) to sitting for the SPM Punjabi language paper.

He said some schools had attempted to block students from taking Punjabi as an SPM subject.

“KDM intervenes with letters of undertaking and support, ensuring students can sit for their exams.

“In 2015, the Education Ministry issued a circular confirming that Sikh students are allowed to wear the kara and keep unshorn hair,” he added.

Jaginder said the Indian High Commission had also been a strong supporter of KDM’s efforts, often inviting the NGO to represent the Punjabi community at national events.

In 2024, he said KDM was among the organisations invited to present in the very first “Samagam: Confluence of Indian Language Series”, which showcased the survival and growth of Indian diaspora languages in Malaysia.

He said to future-proof the Punjabi education ecosystem, KDM was collaborating with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) to offer Punjabi as a minor subject in degree and diploma programmes, tentatively from 2026.

The initiative, he explained, fell under UPSI’s Ethnic Languages Programme, where KDM had pledged to offer scholarships annually to students enrolling in these programmes.

“The aim is to build a new generation of local Punjabi teachers, as the current pool of educators, largely recruited from India, are ageing.

“With KDM having successfully led the revival of Punjabi education in Malaysia, it is now focused on sustaining and advancing its mission,” he added.

Sikh NGO

Established in 1903 in Taiping, Perak, KDM initially focused on the religious and welfare needs of early Sikh migrants.

One of the oldest Sikh organisations in the country, it moved operations in 1950 to Ipoh.

Its site in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak remains the current location of KDM’s operations.

Jaginder said the organisation played a pivotal role in uniting and uplifting the Sikh community through religious, social and cultural initiatives.

He said it established a fund as early as 1905 to promote Gurmat (tenets) teachings, leading to the establishment of gurdwaras in Penang and Perak.

From 1903 to 1937, the organisation held nationwide annual events which combined spiritual, religious and sports activities.

The organisation also extended care to hospital patients and prisoners, especially by providing vegetarian food.

“KDM recognised a growing need for formal education among Punjabi children and responded by establishing its educational wing in 1950, known as the Guru Nanak Institution (GNI) at the premises, where classes commenced in 1951.

“Over time, GNI expanded its role, and became a fully licensed private school.

“However, with changing government policies and the easing of public school entry requirements, GNI − like many other private schools − saw a decline in enrolment and ceased operations in the late 1980s.”

After that, Jaginder said parts of the NGO’s buildings were rented out to various educational institutions over the years.

“Currently, the facilities are occupied by TAJ International College.

“GNI, however, remains as a Punjabi language education school. Classes are held on Saturdays.

“It is the biggest PEC among 36 centres, with a student enrolment of almost 200,” he added.