Include us in deliberations, say experts wary of govt's back-and-forth on policy
Laxmikanth Deshmukh, chairman of the Marathi Language Advisory Committee, said, "It's good that the GRs have been scrapped and that state govt has formed a committee under educationist Narendra Jadhav. I hope the committee reaches out to us and everyone who objects to the policy and hears our views - though I still feel there is no need for a third language in the state."
The state's Marathi Language Advisory Committee joined the rising opposition against the three-language formula when it passed a resolution on June 27 opposing the teaching of Hindi in schools before the class 5.
This marked the first time a govt-appointed panel officially opposed Hindi instruction before class 5.
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Speaking on the mounting opposition, educationist-linguist Shripad Bhalchandra Joshi said, "It is welcome that the govt has withdrawn both GRs. However, given govt's past approach to discussions and committee formation, I think it is necessary for them to give representation to all relevant stakeholders. I would also suggest that they make the committee's work more transparent by publishing its schedule and method of study.
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Bhau Gawande, former deputy director of education, said that on Sunday afternoon - just hours before the policy was put on hold - he and a number of educationists met with top-ranking education department officials. "They tried explaining their reasoning - like the Academic Bank of Credits and the benefits of multi-vocal education. We only asked: 'Why does a third language need to be taught? Any other subject could be taught instead.
' We also pointed out that children who don't speak Marathi at home would have to learn four languages. Overall, it was a non-conclusive meeting."
Madhav Suryavanshi of the Shikshan Vikas Manch expressed hesitation in trusting the govt's announcement. "Until an official order is issued canceling the decision to implement the three-language formula from class 1, the government's stance cannot be trusted," he said.
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