'Can Standard 6 be spared 3-language plan this year?' asks SC

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Thursday asked Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider a reprieve to Class VI students by deferring implementation of the three-language policy to next year, by which time it should shore up infrastructure and teaching staff. Under the policy, students must choose two native languages.

On a related note, the bench of CJI Surya Kant, and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana delved into whether English is an indigenous language. CBSE, through additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, said it is neither foreign nor native. "We have to examine the extent to which English can be considered non-indigenous. I personally have serious reservations about the expression 'native'. It has a very colonial connotation. It should be 'indigenous'," Justice Bagchi said.

Need to decide on status of English: CJI

Secondly, if you see the historical perspective of English and the extent of its roots in Indian society, we will have to take a final call. Although it is your policy, on the constitutional angle — whether English is a non-indigenous language or an indigenous language. If you decide this issue, the rough edges can be largely taken care of,” Justice Bagchi said.

CJI Surya Kant said, “The teething problems can be addressed, but ultimately sooner or later it has to be implemented. There is nothing wrong with the three-language education policy (under NE). But how to streamline it is the question. Whatever impediments or difficulties arising, govt can find a solution by consulting domain experts or by constituting an expert body.” As counsel for a bunch of petitioners argued that class tests in the native languages should also be stopped this year, the bench said since CBSE has said these will be elementary tests and no student’s performance will be based on marks scored, “Let the examinations take place as it will tell us how many students cleared it”.

Bhati said CBSE will consider the issues flagged by the court and respond. Justice Bagchi said: “The second thing which is really troubling the petitioners is whether students presently in Class 6 can also be given a reprieve from taking the final test (in two native languages) in Class 10. The option is 23 languages in theory. But as you rightly said, only around 4% of schools are under CBSE and 96% are under state boards. There are asymmetries in compliance with National Council for Teacher Education norms.”

“Now, compounded with that, if suddenly another indigenous language has to be taught, you would have to give some time not only to the students but also for the infrastructure of schools to come on a par. If this can be reconsidered by the council with regard to the applicability to these classes, and it can instead be scaled down to the lower standards, that would give greater assistance to students and their parents in taking a call,” he said. “If the starting point you have chosen is Class VI, consider giving them a reprieve for this year. You can introduce it next year...,” Justice Bagchi said.
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