KOZHIKODE: CBSE, as recommended by the Union human resource development ministry, may exclude foreign languages from the three-language formula and give students an option to select them as the fourth from the next academic year.
Is it desirable or is it necessary that the three languages must be English, Malayalam and another Indian language? Deccan Chronicle talks to the stakeholders.
“Learning languages like Spanish, French or German may not be as important as Hindi, English and Malayalam, but we have no right to deny a child’s freedom or their urge to learn more languages,” said Sreehari Lal, a Hindi teacher at Bhavans School here.
"Learning foreign languages or any new language is earning more knowledge. By this process, a student is being taken to the culture, people and the evolution of the language of the country. It is always better to leave children to learn what they want and get exposed to a broader world."
Detailing the system, Radhakrishnan Nambiar, an education counsellor, said, “According to this system for students appearing for Class X board exams after the year 2020, they will have to study three languages. English can be one, and the other two will be regional languages. A Foreign language can be learnt vocationally, not counted in their final grades."
“Often parents misuse the provision of learning the foreign language and force it on children since they believe it will help them later in life,” said Radhika N., a teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kozhikode.
George Joseph, Hill Blooms School, Mananthavady, said, “Let’s stick onto the three languages rather than going for more, which is an additional burden on the kids. In case they are keener to learn foreign languages, let them find some other centres. Let’s pave the way for them to study more efficiently than complicating it."
At the same time, learning regional languages is very important as some are fast losing popularity. They are being ignored and forgotten, especially amid central board private school students where they can easily opt out of the regional language after Class VII or VIII.
As per the National Education Policy, students in Hindi-speaking states should learn a modern Indian language, apart from Hindi and English. The decision is yet to be implemented by CBSE, and the discussions among the higher level officials are still going on.
