German Vs Sanskrit
Why
in news?
·
Union
Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) decided to use Sanskrit as a third
language in schools of Kendriya Vidyalaya (KVs) in place of German language.
·
The
decision to discontinue German was taken after the meeting of Board of
Governors of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).
·
The
meeting was headed by Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
[German, which was taught as an option to Sanskrit,
has now been made an additional subject or hobby class (not a third language)
for students from classes 6 to 8.]
Aftermath:
·
The
decision is expected to affect about over 70000 students across 500 KVs from
classes 6 to 8 who will be asked to switch from German to Sanskrit.
·
However,
students will be given an option to pick any Indian language of their choice as
annual exams are barely three months away.
Flashback:
·
German
was taught as a third language from classes 6 to 8 in KV schools after a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between KVS and Goethe Institute—Max
Mueller Bhawan in 2011.
·
However,
the MoU was not referred to HRD Ministry at any stage.
·
Earlier
at the start of 2014, Sanskrit Shikshak Sangh had moved the Delhi High Court alleging that KVS
had introduced German as a third language in place of Sanskrit against the
education policy.
·
The
three language formula as enunciated by the National policy on Education states
and subsequently by the National Curriculum Framework 2005 states that Sanskrit
may be studied as a modern Indian language apart from Hindi and English.
·
Though
the HRD Ministry had said that not teaching Sanskrit as third language in KV
schools is the violation of the Constitution and National Policy on Education
and have even launched an investigation on the MoU signed between KVS and
Goethe Institute in 2011, however, critics see it otherwise.
|
What the 2011 MoU says
|
|
Agreement signed in Sept 2011 in presence of then
German MoS in foreign office Cornelia Pieper and erstwhile MoS, HRD, E Ahmed
|
|
KVs to teach German as option for third language
from Class VI to VIII
|
|
In 2011, about 200 KVs began teaching the language
|
|
Every year, the number of KVs offering German was
to go up
|
|
Goethe Institute supports KVs with teaching
material, selection and training of teachers
|
|
Organizes competitions and cultural programmes for
students
|
German in Schools - a statistics:
·
From
2008, the number of Indian students going to Germany
·
Germany
·
Proficiency
in German language is an asset that these students pursue while in school
itself.
Modi & Angela meets:
·
German
Chancellor Ms. Angela Merkel raised the issue with Mr. Narendra Modi on the
sidelines of G20 Summit.
German Vs Sanskrit:
The scrap German decision likely to affect more than
65000 students across nearly 500 KV schools and also make untenuous the job of
700 teachers of the language in these schools
|
Oct 27: KV board decides to discontinue German
teaching as option to Sanskrit
|
|
Nov14: Smriti Irani defends decision saying
existing arrangement violates 3-language formula
|
|
Ø German to continue to be
taught as “additional subject of hobby class”
Ø Says 2011 MoU on German as
third language unconstitutional
Ø HRD Ministry claims MoU
between KVS and Goethe Institute Max Mueller Bhavan never referred to it.
Matter came to light when it came up for renewal
|
|
Nov 21: SC petitioned. Issues notice to government
|
|
Nov 27: Govt reiterates position before apex court
that Sanskrit would be third language in place of German in KVs from classes
VI to VIII
|
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Nov 28: SC asks HRD to consider continuing German
for present academic session
|
|
Dec 05: Centre stood by its decision on replacing
German as third language with Sanskrit but conceded before the SC that no
exam would be conducted for the subject in the current academic session
|
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