CBSE 3 Language Policy

 I speak this not from the perspective of a bystander who disagrees, but as a student who experiences policy changes in education in real time. The three-language system is designed to promote multilingual learning. While the intention is valuable, the new implementation limits meaningful choice and does not fully reflect the diverse linguistic realities of students across India.

Under the new framework, students are required to study two Indian languages (Hindi, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Marathi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, etc.). The 3rd language is supposed to be a foreign language. 

The problem starts with English being classified as a foreign language in this framework. It is easy to see the problem one would run into:

•In northern states such as Haryana or Uttar Pradesh, students often study Hindi + English, with the third language frequently being Sanskrit due to limited alternatives.

•In southern states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, or Kerala, students typically study their regional language + English, which leaves them effectively required to choose Hindi or Sanskrit as the third language, since selecting another regional language from a different state is often impractical.

As a result, the system reduces flexibility and, in many cases, leads to compulsory language pathways rather than genuine choice.

Despite English being widespread in official communications and also declared as the Official Language of India, it is still classified as a foreign language. While on paper, we still have the choice to take other languages like French, German, Spanish, etc., instead of English, effectively, it makes more sense to pick up English over other foreign languages due to its important role in the professional world. This practically gives no choice for students to actually take up a true foreign language.

This way, students are unintentionally denied global exposure and practical language skills. Children are forced to take up Sanskrit, which we respect as our heritage, but it is still not a widely used skill in the real world. In this changing world, we must adapt to improvements and increase opportunities, and not narrow the path for us students. 

Our Final Demand:

­­We respectfully request that the Central Board of Secondary Education:

• Provide greater flexibility in language selection, allowing students to choose languages based on interest and future goals;
• Allow students the option to include a genuinely foreign language within the three-language system;
• Avoid restrictive combinations that effectively force specific languages in different regions.

India’s linguistic diversity is one of its greatest strengths. A flexible and student-centered approach to language education would preserve this diversity while also preparing students for a globalized world.

This petition is #ByStudentsForStudents.