CBSE 3-language formula draws mixed reactions

Bengaluru,

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has again stirred a debate with its recent announcement making the study of three languages compulsory for students from Class IX beginning July 1. In a notification issued on Friday, the board stated that under the three-language formula, two of the three languages should be native Indian languages.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions from teachers, students, and education experts. Several critics argued that making three languages compulsory could increase the academic pressure on students. Others, however, welcomed the move, saying it would help children develop a deeper understanding of India’s linguistic and cultural diversity from an early stage of education.

“I feel the policy amounts to the imposition of a third language on students and would place an unnecessary academic burden on children,” said Prof. Krishna Raj of the Institute for Social and Economic Change. He added that students should first be encouraged to focus on core academic subjects before being required to study additional languages.

He further noted that the exclusion of foreign languages was a prudent decision, emphasising that proficiency in basic regional languages is of greater immediate importance than learning European languages, whose need may arise only at a later stage. However, he maintained that the policy reflected a cultural imposition by the government rather than a measure aimed at strengthening students’ academic development.

Revive regional languages

Prof. Muralidhar Khajane of Bengaluru University observed that when the three-language formula was first proposed in 1968, its primary objective was to promote national integration. Under the framework, southern states were expected to introduce Hindi or other northern Indian languages in schools, while northern states were expected to incorporate southern Indian languages into their curriculum.

However, he pointed out that while schools in southern India largely adopted Hindi as a language subject, northern states did not make similar efforts to introduce southern languages. “If the government is serious about implementing the three-language formula with the mandate of two native Indian languages, it should also provide options to study Karnataka’s regional languages such as Tulu, Kodava, and Konkani”, he said. He further noted that introducing these languages in schools could help preserve and revive their literature, culture, and heritage, while also generating employment opportunities for members of these communities.

What's next

This decision has created confusion among both schools and parents. While schools are trying to understand how to implement the policy effectively and help students adapt, parents are looking to schools for clarity on how the changes will be carried forward”, said Ekta (name changed), a teacher from Bengaluru.

She explained that several school managements are still in discussions over the implementation process and ways to accommodate both the policy and students’ needs. She noted that schools that had not previously followed the three-language formula could face significant challenges, particularly in recruiting additional language teachers and determining the curriculum to be introduced.

“Although students in Classes IX and X will not have to appear for examinations in the third language, adjusting to such a sudden transition will still be difficult for many students”, she said. Expressing concern over the removal of foreign languages, a student from Bengaluru said, “The board should also consider students’ future. If I want to pursue opportunities abroad, learning French or another foreign language could be beneficial for me”.