Teaching German in KVs violative of 3-language formula: Govt

The agreement on teaching German as a third language in central schools was in "violation" of the three-language formula and therefore it was not renewed, the government said today.
"An MoU on 23/09/11 was entered between Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Goethe-Institut (Max-Muller Bhawan) to introduce German language as one of the third languages from class VI to VII for teaching to the students of KVs.
"The provision of the MoU were violative of the provisions of the three language formula mandated under the National Policy on Education," Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

He said 50,978 students had taken German as the third language in the ongoing academic session. During the last academic year, 36,728 students were studying the subject and a year earlier 17,772 students were studying it.
However, he said the decision to discontinue the language would have "not have any impact" on the Indian youths in preparing them for a globalised world.
Kushwaha said the Sanskrit Sikshak Sangh had also challenged the introduction of German as a third language through a writ petition before the Delhi High Court and the matter was accordingly placed before the KV's Board of Governors (BoG).

"The BoG decided that teaching of German language as option to Sanskrit will be discontinued forthwith. Foreign language would be taught to such students of class 6 to 8 as an additional subject or a hobby class, if they so desired but not as a 3rd language as it violates the three language formula," he said.
Besides German, Chinese is also being offered in some KVs as a hobby class, he added.