CBSE Relaxation On Third Language Draws Mixed Opinions

Hyderabad: The Central Board of Secondary Education’s decision to relax its three-language policy to varying degrees for Classes 7 to 10 has spared Hyderabad students from dropping French, German or another language midway through school. However, students said they would still have to choose an additional Indian language and purchase books while schools said they would have to recruit teachers and make space in the timetable.

While the CBSE relaxation allows students from the current Class 10 batch to continue under the old two-language system, it treats students studying in Classes 7 to 9 differently.

According to new norms, students from Classes 7 and 9 — already studying two non-native languages such as English and French — may retain the existing combination, but they will have to add an Indian language. The third language, however, will be assessed internally by the school and will not become a CBSE board paper when they reach Class X.

Children studying in Class 6 now will have no exemption from the three-language policy as envisaged under the National Education Policy and will have to take the third language board examination in Class 10.

The clarification follows the May 15 circular that made three languages compulsory in Class 9 from July 1. The circular required students to study at least two Indian languages and allowed a foreign language as a third language only when the other two were Indian languages, or as an additional fourth subject. City schools and parents questioned how children already studying English and French could change combinations after the academic year had begun.

Dr Sunil Dubey, a Hindi teacher in Telangana associated with the Devanagari Utthan Foundation, said, “Three languages will still have to be studied. There is no change in that. What CBSE has done is ease the restriction and allow the present arrangement to continue for the next three years.”

However, Varun Saini, a Class 8 student at a city international school, expressed relief over the relaxation as it gave them time to adjust without losing the language they have already studied. “Having to change our language combination suddenly would have been difficult, especially for students who have studied French for several years. The relaxation gives us time to continue with our present subjects while adjusting to the Indian language requirement,” he said.

Schools must, however, still find timetable space for the added language, form separate Telugu and Hindi groups where needed, and arrange teachers for less common choices.

“It is becoming quite challenging for schools and confusing for parents because the rules seem to change frequently. Learning the local language is useful in itself, but children whose parents have transferable jobs may still face difficulties,” said the principal of a city-based school.

CBSE and NCERT said suitable material will be supplied for the added language. Schools may use teachers with functional proficiency, retired teachers, postgraduates, inter-school sharing or virtual classes. However, questions remain over how beginners in higher classes will study alongside more experienced students.

The latest release names Hindi and Telugu among the Indian-language options and clears confusion caused by Hindi’s absence from the Class 6 third-language textbook list. Students who move to another state may retain their existing language combination in Class 9, and schools must arrange teaching support. Exemptions apply to children with special needs, CBSE schools abroad and foreign students returning to India.