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Minnesota includes Sikh studies in school curriculum
The new curriculum is expected to be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year
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Representative image / image - iStock
Earlier this month, the Minnesota Department of Education approved a new social studies curriculum that included the study of Sikh tradition, also known as Sikhi.
The development makes Minnesota the 19th state in the United States to incorporate information about the Sikh community in the curriculum. As a result, over 800,000 students in public schools across the state will have the chance to learn about Sikh values and traditions.
“These new standards will ensure that Sikh students see their community and history reflected in their classrooms,” said Randeep Singh Arora (Ricky), secretary of the Sikh Society of Minnesota Gurdwara Sahib, of Bloomington, MN. “Inclusion in standards is necessary to prepare Minnesota’s students for interactions in both the classroom and the real world.”
The inclusion comes as a result of the Sikh Coalition’s multi-year campaign to raise awareness and ensure access to accurate information on Sikhi for every public school student across the nation.
According to a release, the coalition, along with the Sikh Society of Minnesota, started working in February 2020 by initiating dialogue with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). In December of that year, they submitted a follow-up letter to the first draft of the proposed curriculum and facilitated roughly 35 virtual testimonies.
In the following years, the coalition gathered support from the community and collaborated with allies from the Jewish, Christian, Hindu, and Muslim communities, advocating for Sikhi’s inclusion.
“After almost four years of engagement with the Minnesota sangat, the Department of Education, and interfaith allies, we are thrilled about not only Sikhi’s inclusion but also the experiences of various religious communities,” added Upneet Kaur, Sikh Coalition education manager. “Inclusive and accurate standards are an important first step to combat bigotry and to reduce bullying, and they benefit all students by increasing baseline cultural competency and decreasing ignorance.”
As per the release, the new curriculum will be adopted and implemented in the 2026-2027 school year. The Sikh Coalition will continue to work closely with state officials to facilitate inclusion, the release added.
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