CBSE's Three-Language Policy Challenges Foreign Language Teaching in Schools
CBSE schools struggle to retain foreign language teaching faculty after three-language policy
The Hindu
Image: The Hindu
The Central Board of Secondary Education's new three-language policy, effective July 1, is causing significant challenges for foreign language teachers and students in India. Teachers face job insecurity, while students must learn Indian languages, impacting foreign language enrollment.
- 01The three-language policy mandates that students learn at least two Indian languages, limiting foreign languages to a third or optional fourth language.
- 02Schools like Sri Kumaran Children’s Home have already laid off foreign language teachers due to the policy changes.
- 03Some institutions plan to retain foreign language teachers for weekend classes or other subjects to mitigate job losses.
- 04The reduction in students opting for foreign languages has been noted, with schools seeking clarity on the new curriculum.
- 05The policy has led to discussions on integrating foreign languages through extracurricular activities rather than as core subjects.
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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has implemented a new three-language policy effective July 1, which poses challenges for foreign language teachers and students across India. Under this policy, students must learn at least two native Indian languages, relegating foreign languages like French, German, and Spanish to a third or optional fourth language. This shift has already resulted in job losses for some foreign language teachers, as noted by Deepa Shridhar, director of Sri Kumaran Children’s Home Educational Council. While some schools, such as National Public School, plan to retain their foreign language faculty for weekend classes, others have seen a significant drop in student enrollment for these languages. Schools are awaiting further guidance from CBSE on the curriculum, and there are concerns about the overall reduction in opportunities for students to learn foreign languages. Despite these challenges, some educators believe that foreign languages can be integrated into vocational programs and clubs, thus maintaining interest among students.
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The three-language policy is impacting job security for foreign language teachers and reducing opportunities for students to learn these languages.
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