PSEB Class IX new history syllabus: Sikh Gurus chapters for first time, teachers impressed

Four chapters, starting from physical features of Punjab to Guru Nanak Dev ji and Guru Arjan Dev ji, have been introduced in Class IX.

A chapter from the new book

Amid the political slugfest over new history syllabus introduced by Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) for Classes IX, XI and XII (Class X syllabus yet to be reworked), The Indian Express spoke to some history teachers, including those who teaching Class IX with new books with revised history syllabus.

The books for social studies (which includes history) for Class IX have reached the schools. The teachers, speaking on the condition of anonymity given the political colour the issue has taken, hailed the introduction of Sikh Gurus and Punjab history right from Class IX as a good move.

Four chapters, starting from physical features of Punjab to Guru Nanak Dev ji and Guru Arjan Dev ji, have been introduced in Class IX. “It is for the first time that Sikh Gurus and Punjab history has been introduced right from Class IX and after re-alignment with National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) pattern, content has become easier and interesting for students. Earlier, they were studying Iron Age, Kansa Yug and World Wars which was boring and they failed to relate to it,” said a teacher.

A social studies teacher from a government school in Muktsar says, “To understand how syllabus has been revamped, we need to see Class IX to XII syllabus as an integrated course, like in NCERT books. Earlier, they were arranged haphazardly without any chronology. Now, Sikh Gurus and Punjab history is starting right from Class IX, which earlier started from Class X. The books are simpler, compact and easier to read. There are four chapters in Class IX on Punjab history.”

Another teacher from a PSEB affiliated school in Ludhiana says, “Students are liking the new syllabus as they are relating to it. Now with Sikh Gurus and Punjab history in them, they are localised. Since students in Punjab visit gurdwaras and talk to their families about Sikh Gurus, they need not parrot it.”

“Now more students will be reading about Sikh Gurus and Punjab history as social studies is a compulsory subject in class 9 and 10. Students get divided in streams after class 10. Now class 9 students are reading about Sikh Gurus too,” said a teacher from Moga.

Till last year, there were nine chapters in class 9 which were on Indian and World History including: Pre-Historic period, society of early Iron Age, Medieval World, Kansa Yug, beginning of modern period, First World War, Second World War, Indian Awakening and India’s Freedom Struggle.

The new chapters

The new syllabus has eight chapters, including four on Punjab which are: Physical Features of Punjab, Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji and contemporary society, Development of Sikh religion (1539-1581) and Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji: Contribution in development of Sikhism and his martyrdom.

Divya Goyal

Divya Goyal is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Ludhiana (Punjab). She is widely recognized for her human-interest storytelling and in-depth investigative reporting on social and political issues in the region. Professional Profile Experience: With over 13 years in journalism, she joined The Indian Express in 2012. She previously worked with Hindustan Times. Education: A gold medalist in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. Core Beats: She covers a diverse range of subjects, including gender issues, education, the Sikh diaspora, heritage, and the legacy of the Partition. She has also reported on minority communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Awards and Recognition Divya has earned significant acclaim for her sensitivity toward gender and social disparities: Laadli Media Award (2020): For her investigative report "Punjab: The Invisible Drug Addicts," which exposed the gender disparity in treating women addicts. Laadli Media Award (2023): For a ground report on the struggles of two girls who had to ride a boat to reach their school in a border village of Punjab. Signature Style Divya is known for "humanizing the news." Rather than just reporting on policy, she often focuses on the individuals affected by it—such as students dealing with exam stress, farmers struggling with diversification, or families impacted by crime. Her work often bridges the gap between West (Pakistan) and East (India) Punjab, exploring shared heritage and common struggles. X (Twitter): @DivyaGoyal_ ... Read More