[lg policy] Bangalore: Three-language CBSE policy too much for parents

Sat Feb 4 16:05:14 UTC 2017

Three-language CBSE policy too much for parents
Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Feb 4, 2017, 04.00 AM IST
* By Farheen Hussain*

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.

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.

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
being Indian languages (Hindi and a regional language), in place of two.

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.

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.

Parents feel this stage is too late to thrust an additional Indian language
on the children who also have to concentrate on core subjects.

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.

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.”

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…”

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.

Parents feel that inconsistency is not a favourable trend in the education
sector.

“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.

“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.

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.
“If you do want it in the curriculum, bring it on earlier,” She says.

The same is the problem with parents of students from the South.

“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.

“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
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.

http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/three-language-cbse-policy-too-much-for-parents/articleshow/56961284.cms

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