Three-Language Formula
There is no academic merit in thrusting a third language on students; there could be a risk of raising a generation that is handicapped to compete nationally
the rhetoric of partisan politics surrounding the three language formula, unsurprisingly, the most important stakeholder has been forgotten: the student.
Introduction
Three-Language Formula is an educational policy in India aimed at promoting multilingualism and national integration. It was first introduced in the 1968 National Policy on Education (NPE) and reaffirmed in subsequent education policies, including the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Three-Language Formula (as per NPE 1968 and NPE 1986)
1. First Language: The mother tongue or the regional language.
2. Second Language:
• In Hindi-speaking states: Any modern Indian language (preferably South Indian) or English.
• In non-Hindi-speaking states: Hindi or English.
3. Third Language:
• In Hindi-speaking states: English or a modern Indian language (preferably South Indian).
• In non-Hindi-speaking states: Hindi or English.
Three-Language Formula under NEP 2020
• The policy promotes flexibility in language learning while ensuring at least two Indian languages are studied.
• Medium of instruction should preferably be in the mother tongue/local language up to Class 5, and ideally up to Class 8.
• No language will be imposed on any state, ensuring linguistic harmony.
सरकारी स्कूल के बच्चे प्रभावित
First, it is the child who goes to a public (government) school, and no one else, who should be at the very centre of this debate.
Students in public schools form about 55% of the school enrolment in Tamil Nadu. Children in private schools (largely from the upper class) increasingly rely on supplemental learning beyond school hours, i.e., coaching or tuition classes, which a public school student cannot afford.
Second,ignore the ground realities of public education
while the National Education Policy (NEP) is , there are a few provisions that ignore the ground realities of public education in India, especially at the primary and secondary levels. The three language formula is one such issue.
A problematic hypothesis / परिकल्पना मात्र
The NEP declares that the compulsory learning of three languages
is intended to improve the
- cognitive ability of students,
- enable mobility for employment and
- promote national integration.
Language is a necessary tool
for acquiring knowledge and for communication.
लैंग्वेज ट्रांसलेटर ने भाषा के महत्त्व को काम कर दिया है
technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence, language proficiency itself will gradually lose its significance as a tool for knowledge acquisition.
You could post your query in any language, in say Google Gemini (even children in a public school will hopefully soon have access either through a smart classroom or a smartphone), and get an answer instantly.
ज्यादा भाषा सीखने से आप ज्ञानी हो जाओगे ?
In the years ahead, this access will only get cheaper and better. There is of course indisputable evidence linking language skills with cognitive abilities,
but no can say , proficiency in more languages will proportionately improve cognitive abilities. In fact, research suggests quite the contrary — that a strong foundation in a child’s mother tongue is essential before introducing additional language(s).
A third language - आप अपने काम के हिसाब से सीख लेते है
Tamil ‘thambis’ quickly learn Hindi when they join the Indian Army and thrive famously. Tamilian salesmen speak flawless Marathi when they sell their wares in Maharashtra.
lack basic literacy proficiency
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) Survey 2024. Despite some good initiatives in recent times, 88% of class three students in Tamil Nadu still lack basic literacy proficiency.
What is ASER?
- About: ASER is a nationwide, citizen-led household survey that offers an insightful snapshot of children's schooling and learning in rural India.
- Launched in 2005, ASER tracks educational trends and challenges in rural areas, evolving in coverage, focus, and frequency.
Problem in english if you go to college
The challenge is even greater with the second language, English. Many top-scoring students, even from English-medium public schools, struggle to adapt when transitioning to English-medium instruction in college, particularly in professional courses, because in the school, they are taught in Tamil, not in English.
Focus on teaching and learning
इसकी जगह में क्या किया जाये ?
to massively improve teaching quality and learning outcomes, and not to add one more language.
we should focus on developing
- such as curiosity,
- critical thinking and
- creativity, which are critical to success in the 21st century.
in the curriculum for inculcating these traits, rather than thrusting a third language. Within this finite time, it is important to enable deeper learning than wider learning.
Fourth थर्ड भाषा के लिए टीचर हैं ?
every parent chooses Hindi and not a variety of other languages.
There is every reason to fear the quality of teachers leading to inferior learning. Despite Tamil Nadu having one of the highest per-child education budgets in the country, 80%-90% of the budget is spent on teacher salaries, while infrastructure suffers.
The cost of having third language teachers could eat into the funds available for infrastructure.
नैतिकता के सन्दर्भ में तर्क
A third language is neither the only nor a superior way to inculcate these values
Language
is a great anchor of cultural values. National unity is indeed a foundational value, and the Constitution provides for the propagation / spreading of Hindi. While a common language is desirable, it would be at the tail end of cultural initiatives to promote unity.
A spirit of respect for other cultures and a shared sense of history should be an integral part of learning.
रोजगार के सन्दर्भ में तर्क
opportunities for public school students are available within the State, either from government, private enterprise or self employment (the case thus far), the need for a third language may not be critical.
जबकि हम उनको वर्ल्ड लेवल के लिए तैयार करें
However, the system outcomes must facilitate wider choices for students from Tamil Nadu to compete for the best educational and employment opportunities, nationally and even globally.
नेशनल लेवल के एग्जाम तो आप अंग्रेजी में ले रहे
So long as English continues to be an official language in examinations for central services, the defence services and the judiciary, students from Tamil Nadu should be able to compete at a national level, as they have done successfully for several decades. Better teaching/learning of English would improve their competitiveness in the world, which is increasingly looking for English-literate service providers.
The politics and the student
There are two dimensions to this problem: politico-cultural and child development.
it is important to acknowledge ,from a child development perspective, that it is a two-front political battle, i.e.,
- one, stopping Hindi ‘imposition’ on the State;
- and two, fighting to retain the robust status of English nationally. The second is a more challenging task.
The State’s politics
may not harm the future of students, as long as English continues as an official language at the Centre with equal force and usage.
However, if, nationally the landscape is likely to change with Hindi progressively replacing English (in spirit even if not in letter because of constitutional safeguards), the State’s politics should factor this reality and seriously consider insulating the child’s development from the crossfire of political battles.
चूँकि बच्चे पर तीसरी भाषा थोपने का कोई अकादमिक महत्व नहीं है, खासकर प्राथमिक स्तर पर, इसलिए मिडिल पब्लिक स्कूल से तीसरी भाषा के रूप में हिंदी को एक विकल्प के रूप में पेश किया जा सकता है। इसे जिला मुख्यालयों के स्कूलों में शुरू किया जा सकता है और मांग के आधार पर धीरे-धीरे अन्य स्कूलों में भी विस्तारित किया जा सकता है, जो बदले में, राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर अंग्रेजी की जगह हिंदी के इस्तेमाल की गति पर निर्भर करेगा।
Source the hindu
Comments
Post a Comment