Is CBSE trying to impose Sanskrit, ask academia

Chennai: CBSE’s proposal to introduce three language system in its affiliated schools till class X has rung alarm bells in Tamil Nadu where educationists and activists see it as the way of imposing Sanskrit through “backdoor”.

While activists opposed the move to have a three-language system that would include Sanskrit, principals of CBSE schools and students seem to be open to the idea of teaching and learning an additional language respectively.

Though the proposal carefully highlights it as students’ choice to select the language they want to learn as third language, it is being viewed as imposition of Sanskrit on them.  

Another activist who did not want to be named said the Union Government has been trying to impose Sanskrit in schools across the country for a long time. “I think they are trying to impose it through backdoor,” he said.

However, Radhika Unni, principal of SBOA School, said the proposal will prove beneficial for students. “But, an issue associated with the problem will be of the lack of faculty for students taking Sanskrit Class X Board. The curriculum and crediting should be accordingly.”

Echoing the views of Ms Unni, K. Mohana, principal of Modern Senior Secondary School,  said, “We will be happy to implement this regulation in our schools as it will enrich the knowledge of students. Also, it will help students from other states to study in their mother tongue.”  

However, Ajay S., a class IX student says that, “It is a compulsion for us to study Sanskrit even till class VIII because not many of us are interested in it. It should be optional, given a chance to opt it or it becomes an extra burden for us.”
However, Rekha V., a student of class VIII is of the view that this system will be beneficial as under third language they can study vernacular languages, which seem to lose importance in the current scenario.