New Draft Policy Suggests Making Hindi Compulsory

Lately, a nine-member K Kasturirangan committee was formulated on the New Education Policy (NEP). The new education policy aims to bring into action an “India-centric” and “scientific” system of learning in schools. The new committee has proposed a three-language formula making Hindi mandatory till Class 8 all over the country.

As of now Hindi is not compulsory in schools, especially in those states where Hindi is not spoken such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, West Bengal and Assam. This step has been taken in order to make sure that a uniform syllabus nationwide for Science and Maths exists, and to develop a script in Devanagari for tribal dialects, and alongside promote education that is based on “hunar (skill)”. The report of the Committee was handed over to the HRD Ministry last month i.e. before 31st December, 2018. The formal handing over of the report is yet to happen. HRD Minister, Javadekar informed that the committee’s report is already in shape and the members have asked for an appointment. Javadekar stated that the report shall be discussed after the parliament session. Some of the sources have revealed that there are chances that the committee might place the report in the public domain for further suggestions and feedback. Sources have revealed that on one hand while subjects require some local content, there is absolutely no sense in having a varied syllabus for maths and science in the different state boards upto class 12th. The language in which science and maths is taught may differ but the syllabus should be uniform in all the states. Sources have further speculated that the new policy also talks about developing a syllabus upto class 5 in the local languages for example Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Maithili, etc., in areas where they are commonly spoken. It is known to all that in India there are numerous tribal dialects that either do not have a script or are written in the Roman script because of the influence of missionaries. According to the New education policy, Devanagari will be developed as a script for such dialects. This is being done because the aim is to create an India centric education system. Some of the other recommendations that have been made by the Committee are:

(i) Permanent high-power committee on education, headed by Prime Minister, to meet at regular intervals.

(ii) Regulatory mechanism to be strengthened and headed by non-bureaucrats.

(iii) Technical and professional courses to be promoted among SC/ST students.

The committee held discussions with Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Shiksha Samooh (Education Group) of RSS-linked organisations before giving out its suggestions. The various members of the Committee includes: Former ISRO chief Kasturirangan; Mumbai-based educationist Vasudha Kamat; Union MoS K J Alphons; Princeton University professor and mathematician Manjul Bhargava; Baba Saheb Ambedkar University of Social Sciences-Indore ex-Vice-Chancellor Ram Shankar Kureel; Indira Gandhi National Tribal University-Amarkantak Vice-Chancellor T V Kattimani; former director of UP Intermediate Education Krishna Mohan Tripathy; Guwahati-based academician Mazhar Asif; and, educationist M K Sridhar.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://indianexpress.com/article/education/hindi-must-be-made-mandatory-till-class-8-says-new-policy-draft-5531063/