Three-language policy implemented in Maha in haste, chaos lead to revocation: Educators

Time of India

13 hours ago

Pune: Several educators in the state on Sunday reiterated that govt's decision on the three-language policy announced earlier in June was taken in haste and without consultation with experts, leading to complete chaos that resulted in the resolution being revoked.
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Many asserted that the widespread opposition to the policy was not against the Hindi language, but its introduction from Std I.
On Sunday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a committee to suggest the way forward in the implementation of the language policy and withdrew GRs issued in April and June this year, which had introduced Hindi learning as a must from a much younger age in school.
In a reaction statement, the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal said, "There is hope he (Fadnavis) will continue to take decisions in the interest of Marathi in future, too."
Mahendra Ganpule, former vice president, State Headmasters' Association, said, "There is no ill feeling against the third language or Hindi. But there was opposition to the wrong policy of implementing it from Std I without considering child psychology. We will present all our points in detail again before the committee and try to ensure that the right decision is taken in the interest of children."
The parent of a Std III student from Kothrud, Shilpa Kulkarni, said Sunday's decision has put an end to ongoing confusion.
"After schools resumed for the new academic year, we have only been discussing this issue. It was very difficult to handle the confusion and explain to our children whether the language subject has been incorporated. Now, we have clarity."
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and AAP Paalak Union issued a statement, saying, "There was no logical reason behind the insistence on imposing a third language in Std I when children already have the burden of English besides their mother tongue.
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Govt issued this order surreptitiously through wordplay, without any insistence from parents or teachers. The public sentiment was that this was politics to undermine Marathi, the mother tongue in Maharashtra, by giving it secondary status and bringing Hindi forward as a transactional language, thus attacking diversity.
"
AAP's Mukund Kirdat said, "There was no reason to change the existing three-language formula starting at the secondary level.
The opposition was not against Hindi or a third language but against its implementation from Std I."
Chief coordinator of Shikshan Vikas Manch, Madhav Suryawanshi, said, "While CM has announced cancellation of the GR, considering past experience, we cannot trust this declaration till a notification is issued. Earlier, despite CM and the education minister publicly stating that three languages would not be made compulsory from Std I, govt still implemented the same decision.
Until an order is issued stating that the decision stands cancelled, govt's stance cannot be trusted.
Govt should issue that order."
Pune: Several educators in the state on Sunday reiterated that govt's decision on the three-language policy announced earlier in June was taken in haste and without consultation with experts, leading to complete chaos that resulted in the resolution being revoked.
Many asserted that the widespread opposition to the policy was not against the Hindi language, but its introduction from Std I.
On Sunday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a committee to suggest the way forward in the implementation of the language policy and withdrew GRs issued in April and June this year, which had introduced Hindi learning as a must from a much younger age in school.
In a reaction statement, the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal said, "There is hope he (Fadnavis) will continue to take decisions in the interest of Marathi in future, too."
Mahendra Ganpule, former vice president, State Headmasters' Association, said, "There is no ill feeling against the third language or Hindi. But there was opposition to the wrong policy of implementing it from Std I without considering child psychology. We will present all our points in detail again before the committee and try to ensure that the right decision is taken in the interest of children."
The parent of a Std III student from Kothrud, Shilpa Kulkarni, said Sunday's decision has put an end to ongoing confusion.
"After schools resumed for the new academic year, we have only been discussing this issue. It was very difficult to handle the confusion and explain to our children whether the language subject has been incorporated. Now, we have clarity."
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and AAP Paalak Union issued a statement, saying, "There was no logical reason behind the insistence on imposing a third language in Std I when children already have the burden of English besides their mother tongue.
Govt issued this order surreptitiously through wordplay, without any insistence from parents or teachers. The public sentiment was that this was politics to undermine Marathi, the mother tongue in Maharashtra, by giving it secondary status and bringing Hindi forward as a transactional language, thus attacking diversity.
"
AAP's Mukund Kirdat said, "There was no reason to change the existing three-language formula starting at the secondary level.
The opposition was not against Hindi or a third language but against its implementation from Std I."
Chief coordinator of Shikshan Vikas Manch, Madhav Suryawanshi, said, "While CM has announced cancellation of the GR, considering past experience, we cannot trust this declaration till a notification is issued. Earlier, despite CM and the education minister publicly stating that three languages would not be made compulsory from Std I, govt still implemented the same decision. Until an order is issued stating that the decision stands cancelled, govt's stance cannot be trusted.
Govt should issue that order."