Boost to multilingualism

The introduction of the three-language formula in CBSE schools across the nation should be welcomed. It eliminates the anomaly between curriculums in schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) which hitherto were teaching only two languages while schools under state boards were mandated to follow the 3-language formula. The CBSE circular has directed the schools to implement teaching of the third language forthwith from the start of the session on July 1. They have also notified that it will not be part of the Board examination but the internal assessment will reflect in the 10th std Board results.

It has also directed that of the three languages, two should be native Indian languages. The policy implemented as part of National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework, must be appreciated as it aims to promote multilingualism and promises to broaden the knowledge and skills in one additional Indian language. Under the two-language formula, the CBSE students were mostly opting for Hindi and English and foregoing learning of their own mother tongue.

The new formula creates scope for studying their own mother tongue or the state’s official language in case they happen to be other than Hindi. This could ease the rigours of families where heads of the families are in jobs that require frequent movement between states or Central Govt staff appointed in non-Hindi states. However, given the immediacy of implementation from July 1, one wonders if CBSE schools may have teaching staff, text books, teaching aids and infrastructure to give effect to the directive. The initiative should however be looked at as a boost for linguistic skills rather than a burden as linguistically diverse India will only stand to benefit from youth having multilingual skills.