‘We will only push children’: BJP leader Annamalai seeks return of CBSE trilingual formula for Class IX | Today’s news

Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Tuesday urged the Union Education Ministry to withdraw its recent announcement of making three languages ​​compulsory for Class IX students. classes in the current academic year. According to a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, the CBSE’s decision to introduce a third compulsory language for Class IX students from this academic year has come as a shock to parents as it initially came into effect only in the academic year 2029-30.

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Annamalai, who resigned from the IPS in 2019 and joined the BJP in 2020, said he welcomed the CBSE’s move to make the three languages ​​compulsory for students.

“I was one of many who welcomed this decision, which allows children to learn multiple languages ​​from an early age, which would help broaden their understanding of India’s diverse literary landscape,” Annamalai said in a post on X.

What is CBSE trilingual rule?

According to the CBSE guideline, students from IX must. classes from July 1 to study three languages. At least two of the three languages ​​must be Indian, as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. However, the third language (R3) will not be included as an examination subject in Class X.

“To adequately address the competencies expected at the secondary level, these textbooks will be supplemented with one appropriate local or state literary material selected by the schools, such as short stories, poems or non-fiction,” the board said.

Read also | What is the CBSE Trilingual Pattern for Class 9: All You Need to Know

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.

Are schools ready for a trilingual formula?

The CBSE mandated the trilingual formula despite acknowledging the lack of specialized R3 textbooks and the lack of trained faculty members in schools.

According to the board, textbooks of Class 6 R3 in 19 scheduled languages ​​will be made available to schools before July 1, while for the remaining indigenous Indian languages, schools can use available State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and state-level resources.

The Board further stated that schools facing a shortage of adequately qualified Indian teachers of an Indian language may employ existing teachers of other subjects who have a working knowledge of the language as a temporary arrangement.

Increasing pressure on students

The BJP leader said that students had already chosen a language in Class VI and expecting them to learn a new language would only add to the pressure on them.

“Expecting a class IX student to learn a new language in a short period of time will only put pressure on the children and affect their overall academic performance,” he said.

“I request the education department to withdraw this notification immediately and fulfill its previous commitment to introduce three languages ​​- two of which will be native Indian languages ​​- for students of class IX from the academic year 2029-30,” Annamalai added.

SC to hear PIL against trilingual formula

On Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea challenging the CBSE’s new policy.

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“This is an urgent PIL. The petitioners are students, teachers and parents. They are challenging CBSE’s new policy which made two more languages ​​compulsory in 9th standard,” said senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi.

Key things

• CBSE has introduced a new tri-language policy for Class IX, which requires two Indian languages ​​and one foreign language.
• Annamalai’s petition reflects the concerns of students and parents about the feasibility of the policy.
• The lack of resources and qualified teachers raises questions about the implementation of the trilingual formula.