Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan defended the CBSE three-language policy for students in Class nine and 10 during a recent interview with NDTV.
The policy has sparked a national debate among parents and students over the mandatory nature of the language system. Because the requirements affect millions of students across India, the government's stance on flexibility and legal compliance is critical to the stability of the national curriculum.
Under the current framework, the CBSE policy mandates that students in Class nine and 10 study two Indian languages [1]. This requirement is part of a broader three-language strategy intended to promote multilingualism across the country [2].
Pradhan addressed the concerns of those criticizing the system by sharing a personal example. "My daughter studied Marathi till class 8," Pradhan said [3].
While the minister expressed support for the National Education Policy and the current system, he acknowledged the role of the judiciary in resolving the dispute. "We will do whatever the Supreme Court will say," Pradhan said [3].
Pradhan encouraged stakeholders to remain patient with the transition. "Have faith in the system, the Prime Minister, and the NEP," Pradhan said [4].
The debate centers on whether the mandatory nature of these languages places an undue burden on students who may already be juggling multiple linguistic requirements in diverse regional contexts [2].
“"We will do whatever the Supreme Court will say."”
The Education Minister's willingness to abide by a Supreme Court ruling suggests that the government is preparing for potential legal challenges to the CBSE's language mandates. By citing his daughter's education, Pradhan is attempting to humanize a bureaucratic policy that critics argue is too rigid for the diverse linguistic landscape of India.
