Patanjali Civil Services Academy

Three-Language Scheme: CBSE [Prelims Bits]

Tags: Prelims Current events of national and international importance

Source: The Hindu

Context: The Centre has opposed treating English as an indigenous/native language under the three-language framework and is considering relief for the current Class 6 batch.
Three-language framework: Envisages learning mother tongue/regional language + another Indian/indigenous language + another Indian or foreign language.
CBSE implementation: Current Class 6 students are expected to face the mandatory third-language examination in Class 10, while Classes 7–9 were exempted under the transition arrangements.
Proposed relief: The Supreme Court has asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider a one-time exemption/reprieve for the current Class 6 batch from the Class 10 third-language paper.
Centre’s position: The government has not agreed to classify English as an indigenous language and will make submissions before the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court: Issued notice on petitions by minority schools challenging/raising concerns regarding implementation of the three-language scheme.
Policy rationale: The Court noted that introducing additional languages at a younger age may allow students and educational infrastructure more time to adapt.
NEP 2020: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommends the three-language formula, with at least two of the three languages being native to India, while allowing flexibility for States, regions and students.

Q1. With reference to the three-language framework in Indian school education, consider the following statements:

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 permits flexibility for States, regions and students in choosing the languages to be studied.
NEP 2020 recommends that at least two of the three languages studied should be native to India.
Under the framework described in the article, English can automatically satisfy the requirement of an Indian/indigenous language merely because it is widely used in Indian education.
The rationale for introducing additional languages at a younger age includes giving students and educational institutions greater time to adapt.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4 only

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: NEP 2020 provides flexibility to States, regions and students in implementing the three-language formula.
Statement 2 is correct: At least two of the three languages are recommended to be native to India.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Centre has specifically opposed treating English as an indigenous/native language for this purpose.
Statement 4 is correct: Earlier introduction of languages can provide more time for students and educational infrastructure to adjust.