The decision of the union HRD ministry to scrap German as a third language choice in Kendriya Vidyalayas has blown up into a full fledged controversy encompassing the entire three language formula.
The ministry has defended itself by saying that it is trying to uphold the law of the land.
The critics feel that scrapping German in the mid-term is a bad idea.
Some also suggest for the Sanskritization to be done.
The Three Language Formula was announced in 1965 following the Tamil Nadu agitation against Hindi. According to the formula three languages which were to be taught in a school are: the local language, English and a third language from another part of the Country in order to promote national integration.
Kendriya Vidyayalayas are meant for the Central govt. employees and their children. Here the idea is to have transferrable skills. English and Hindi are taught compulsorily here.
The Supreme Court’s intervention has given some relief to Parents and Students.
For a language to succeed as a third language it has to be first language somewhere.
Sanskrit is not available in daily life, not used in commerce and currency and it is not evolving. Hence it cannot be made compulsory.
The purpose of learning languages is to enhance the opportunities in future education and career.
There are no Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in Tamil Nadu.
Constitutionally, we do not have a national Language. Hindi is official language.
