Twitter
Advertisement

Why punish KV students by introducing Sanskrit in mid session: Supreme Court to Centre

Centre says Sanskrit will be the compulsory third language but the syllabus and marks awarded in the current session will be that of an entry-level

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Showing concern the Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to consider not replacing German language with Sanskrit in Kendriya Vidyalayas in the middle of the ongoing academic session and implement the decision from next academic year. Apex court asked the Centre, it questioned, "Why should the students suffer in the middle of the academic session."

Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi on behalf of Centre, who took a decision to introduce Sanskrit in classes VI-VIII in the place of German as third language recently, defended the government's move saying German language cannot be a third language as the Memorandum of Understanding signed three years back by the government with German authority is "illegal". The same was being taught without approval and "wrong cannot be allowed to continue."

The Centre said in 2011, an agreement was signed for German to be taught at Kendriya Vidyalayas with Max Mueller Bhavans or Goetha Institutes, which are tasked by the German government to propagate the country's culture abroad.

The contract was incorrectly signed in the first place because it violates the country's education policy and was therefore not renewed in September, the government took a stand.

"Why are you punishing students for your mistake? Think from students and parents point of view," a bench headed by Justice AR Dave and asked government's senior most law officer to seek instruction if the implementation can be postponed till next academic session.

The bench granted a week's time to government and said that introducing Sanskrit is a good decision as it is mother of all languages but we should not forget about our culture. With Sanskrit one can learn other languages easily as it is mother of all languages, it also said.

The court was hearing a petition filed by a group of parents of KV students who challenged Centre's decision to replace German language with Sanskrit in mid of ongoing academic session.

The Board of Governors (BoG) of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), headed by HRD Minister Smriti Irani, had in its meeting on October 27 decided that "teaching of German language as an option to Sanskrit will be discontinued herewith".

German has been kept as an additional subject for students. The decision is expected to affect over 70,000 students across 500 KVs.

Filing an affidavit, the HRD ministry told the court that the government has taken a decision in accordance with the Constitution and National Education Policy and the court should not entertain any plea challenging the policy decision of the government.

It said Sanskrit will be the compulsory third language from Class VI to Class VIII in Kendriya Vidyalayas but the syllabus and marks awarded in the current session will be that of an entry-level course to avoid "undue stress"on students.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement