<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail-heading2"><h1>Three-language CBSE policy too much for parents</h1></div><div class="gmail-classleft"><span class="gmail-byline">Bangalore Mirror Bureau <span style="font-size:9px">|</span> Feb 4, 2017, 04.00 AM IST</span></div><div class="gmail-tt gmail-flL_cr" align="right"><span class="gmail-fontd"></span></div><span class="gmail-fonti"></span><em><strong> By Farheen Hussain</strong></em><br> <br>
The Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE’s) latest notification
to include three Indian languages – Hindi, English and a regional
language – for the board exams has got the goat of parents of class five
and six students. They feel it is unjust for the students to be
burdened with a new language to prepare for while focusing on the core
subjects of the curriculum. The angry parents now plan to approach the
Union ministry of human resource and development.<br> <br> The parents
believe that the CBSE’s exception to the rule to the present batch of
students from class seven onward must be extended to classes five and
six students, too, as it is then that they opt for languages.<br> <br>
The CBSE announced a change under which students appearing for the class
10 board exams will have three papers of compulsory languages, one
being English and two<br> being Indian languages (Hindi and a regional language), in place of two.<br> <br>
To be implemented only by 2019-2020, while the announcement exempts
students presently in class seven onward from the rule, the students in
class five and six have to adjust to the new rule.<br> <br> Till now,
the students were to choose one language other than Hindi and English
after their grade four which would be any popular foreign language like
French or German. The new proposal makes foreign languages as
non-qualifying, bringing back focus on Indian languages.<br> <br>
Parents feel this stage is too late to thrust an additional Indian
language on the children who also have to concentrate on core subjects.<br> <br>
A parent, Sunil M Paul, told Bangalore Mirror: “When class four ends,
the children are given an option to choose their second and third
languages.<br> <br> In class five, these students have already chosen a
language of their choice. According to the new rule, only students in
class seven, eight, nine and ten are exempted from this new rule. They
must exempt even students in class 5 and 6 from this ordeal.”<br> <br>
He elaborated: “By class six, children are already familiar with the
language to a great extent. Picking up a new language from scratch is a
pain. At this stage of academics, the children have to focus even on the
core subjects, how can we push them to learn a new language altogether?
And this is a language in which the child even has to score decently in
class 10 boards. So much depends on this single move…”<br> <br> Sunil’s
son studies in class 6 of a city school affiliated to CBSE and has
opted for French as the third language, which he may have to drop with
the new proposal made by CBSE.<br> <br> Parents feel that inconsistency is not a favourable trend in the education sector.<br> <br>
“This is definitely going to be an issue. I am noticing that since the
last few years there are several changes made in the blink of an eye.
>From scrapping of board exams to grading system, the authorities must
set things once and for all and decide a long-term policy without
fiddling with the lives of these children,” a mother of class six girl
who, like Sunil’s son, has also opted for French.<br> <br> “I believe
that language is a choice and one cannot force it upon them. I am okay
with regional language or Hindi or any language to be brought into the
curriculum unless the introduction is in class one itself. In class five
or six, it will be tough not only for the children but even the
parents!” she said.<br> <br> This parent, who did not want to be named,
is from North India and learning regional languages like Tamil or
Malayalam would definitely be a challenge at a later stage.<br> “If you do want it in the curriculum, bring it on earlier,” She says.<br> <br> The same is the problem with parents of students from the South.<br> <br>
“Coming from Kerala, I would like my child to opt for Malayalam. But I
guess the lack of staff and other complications makes it difficult”
Sunil Paul says.<br> <br> “As teachers, we have to cater to students
from different parts of the country. There will be students whose
parents are transferred from one part of the country to another. We may
not have Bengali or Marathi teachers. It is a really messy situation. As
a Centrally affiliated institution, I believe these kinds of
complications are<br> unnecessary. Languages like French and German were
one step forward and this is just another confused decision taken,” a
teacher of CBSE-affiliated secondary school said, insisting on
anonymity.<br><br><a href="http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/three-language-cbse-policy-too-much-for-parents/articleshow/56961284.cms">http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/three-language-cbse-policy-too-much-for-parents/articleshow/56961284.cms</a><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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