CBSE schools struggle to retain foreign language teachers after implementation of tri-language policy
While teachers fear losing their jobs – some already disabled – students who opted for French, German and Spanish are forced to start learning a new Indian language from scratch. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
The Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) three-language rule for Class 9 students, effective from July 1, has become a cause of concern for foreign language teachers and students.
While teachers fear losing their jobs – some already disabled – students who opted for French, German and Spanish are forced to start learning a new Indian language from scratch. The primary rule dictates that at least two of the three languages must be native Indian languages, with English as the default medium of instruction (L1) in most English-medium schools.
Thus, according to a circular issued on May 15, students opting for a foreign language can do so only as a third language after studying two native Indian languages or as an additional fourth language.
Deepa Shridhar, director of Sri Kumaran Children’s Home Educational Council, explained: “If there is no opportunity to learn a foreign language as a third language, it is an expensive matter for us to retain teachers who teach French and German. Unfortunately, with this new policy, we had to let those teachers go. We also informed their parents whose children were studying French and German about the many options to study German when they have 1 consent to our decision. 0 parents asked us to provide them some extra hours after school or on weekends.’
On the other hand, some schools are working on a strategy to retain foreign language teachers for other roles or even to teach languages on weekends, similar to courses in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, etc.
Shefali Tyagi, Principal, National Public School, HSR Layout, said, “Foreign language teachers will not be fired in our school. We plan to retain them to teach foreign languages on weekends as extra-curricular courses over and above the regular school curriculum. Besides, some of these teachers also teach other subjects like social science, science, mathematics and English.”
She also pointed out that the number of students opting for French at their school has dropped drastically this year. “It is also not clear in the curriculum or syllabus what students are supposed to learn in the third language. The CBSE is likely to provide us with the necessary syllabus soon,” she said.
Manju Balasubramanyam, Delhi Public School, Bengaluru North, also spoke about similar plans. “We plan to retain our foreign language teaching faculty as the fourth language will still be considered for board exams. In DPS, the foreign language is taught in the interest section for classes 6 to 8. Due to the New Education Policy (NEP) in 2020, we saw it as a second language offered to students and from interest groups. 6 to 8. Later an entrance test was conducted and if they passed it, they could choose it as a second language in grades 9 and 10.”
She added: “Basically, there is a provision for assessment of the fourth language for board exams, unlike the third language, which only has an internal assessment. The opportunity to learn a foreign language for students has decreased. I hope that at least for this year, there will be relaxation for students of class 9.”
The discussion of the three-language policy should not be seen as foreign languages disappearing from the system, said Prathima Patel, director of Ryan International Academy. “Even before the tri-language policy was introduced in the system, few CBSE schools offered foreign languages to students. I believe that schools can integrate them in a meaningful way by creating various clubs, skill learning programs, etc. In our school, we have introduced them as part of vocational programs rather than core subjects. Those who are interested in studying choose to learn French and other languages. The number of children learning in our school is also constantly increasing.”
Published – 27 May 2026 23:21 IST