English not a must in Class 11, 12; to be treated as ‘foreign language’ in Maharashtra

Vasant Kalpande, a renowned educationist, asked, “How can English be considered a foreign language?” Pointing out its significance in official communication between state and central governments, court proceedings, and various governmental documents, he emphasised that English, along with Hindi, is declared as an official language of the Government of India.

The draft SCF-SE lacks clarity on the English language policy in classes 3 to 10, where English was mandatory until now. According to the proposed subject combinations, classes 3 to 5 will have two languages instead of the existing three-language system. The first language can be either the mother tongue or the state language (Marathi), and the second language can be any other language.

Schools, particularly English medium ones, have expressed concerns about implementation. A teacher said, “We cater to children coming from different backgrounds with various mother tongue. This means we are left with a second option, which is essentially Marathi. Then how are we going to be English medium schools.” The draft has led to more confusion than answers, the teacher added.

Many teachers also pointed out that the proposed system violates parents’ rights to select the medium of instruction for their children’s schooling, considering Maharashtra’s urbanised and industrialised nature with a significant migrant population.

For classes 7 to 8, the proposed subject scheme recommends three languages without specifying the combination. For classes 9 and 10, two out of three languages must be of Indian origin. Some education experts find the optional language choice contradictory to the Maharashtra government’s 2021 decision, which made Marathi a mandatory subject in all schools.

In addition to the confusing language policy, the SCF is also being discussed for offering a multi-disciplinary approach to junior college education, replacing the traditional Arts, Commerce and Science streams. Students will have the freedom to choose subjects across disciplines.
Mahendra Ganpule, spokesperson of the Maharashtra State School Principals’ Association, emphasised the importance of public feedback on the draft, available on SCERT’s official website until June 3.

The SCF also recommends incorporating the Indian Knowledge System into the curriculum, including courses on Yoga, ancient Indian technologies and science, and historical Indian contributions to modern mathematics, such as Aryabhatta’s work in trigonometry. Classes 11 and 12 will include a course on knowledge traditions and practices of India.