The World Sikh Organization of Canada, in partnership with the Peel District School Board (PDSB), has launched the Sikh Faith E-Module, during an event held at North Park Secondary School in Brampton.

The E-Module, intended for students, their families, staff and community partners, will share information on Sikh faith, culture, heritage and more.

The Sikh Faith E-Module is the culmination of several years of collaboration and effort and will provide information on best practices when interacting with and educating Sikh students.

In 2011, The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) conducted a survey of over 300 Sikh students between the ages of five and 17 in Peel and found that approximately 40 per cent reported being bullied because of their Sikh identity (in a subsequent survey in 2016, the number declined to 27 per cent).

The WSO is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

The WSO shared the results with the senior leadership of the PDSB in the spring of 2012, and the idea of creating a resource on Sikh students was discussed. After several years of dialogue and co-operation, the Sikh Faith E-Module has now been launched.

The Sikh Faith E-Module covers basic information about the Sikh faith and includes short interviews with current and former Sikh PDSB students who speak about issues such as the significance of the turban and Sikh articles of faith; a turban tutorial and what to do if the turban becomes loose or undone; Sikh celebrations and Sikh food. The e-module also provides teachers with classroom tips to help Sikh students do well in the classroom.

“The Sikh Faith E-Module is the result of several years of co-operation and dialogue with the PDSB,” said WSO Ontario vice-president Sharanjeet Kaur, in a news release.

“The E-Module will be an important tool for educators to understand the identity and lived experiences of Sikh students. It will also be a resource for educators when they have specific questions about Sikhs or the Sikh faith. We are grateful to the PDSB for their assistance and support in producing this E-Module and we are hopeful that it will be a resource not just for Peel but for educators across Canada,” Kaur added.

"Partnerships between school boards and community organizations are vital for student success,” said Harkirat Singh, Peel School Board Trustee for Wards 9/10, who played an important role in the development of the e-module.