Kolkata: CBSE-affiliated schools in and around the city that offer foreign languages to the students heaved a sigh of relief after a clarification on the circular on its foreign language policy was issued.The Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday clarified that those students in classes 7, 8 and 9, who have been already studying foreign languages under the existing system can continue with the same until class 10 examination.This clarification on foreign languages has brought huge relief to students and foreign language teachers, according to the principals. However, students in lower classes are still under pressure, as this will start with class 6.After the circular was issued, schools that offer foreign languages had faced major difficulties.According to the old CBSE circular three languages was mandatory for the secondary students. Of these, at least two have to be native India languages, including Hindi and Sanskrit.Abhishikta Palit, who studies in a Newtown school, said it was a big relief.The class 8 student said, “I was genuinely scared when I learned it because it was a threat to me. I last learned Bengali in grade 1. If I start fresh, then it would be difficult for me.”According to the principals, the announcement was a major relief as students had been upset after the circular was issued. However, many principals are still in wait for the circular to release closely.“The clarification is a relief for the senior students but we need to go through the circular at length,” said Loveleen Saigal, who is the principal of Birla High School.For principal of Asian International School, Simran Sanghera, it’s a big breather for the children. She feels so because parents and children were left in uncertainty. “Now it comes as a big relief for these children, who will not bear the burden,” she added.Satabdi Bhattacharjee, who is the princiapl of Newtown School, said, “It’s huge respite for students in classes 7, 8, and 9, but we are waiting an official circular to confirm whether exemptions will apply to students from outside.”However, parents whose wards are in the junior classes are still in huge pressure as the three-language policy would be implemented from class 6.A section of the parents of the students of junior grades are planning to move a writ petition in the apex court. They will challenge the decision.Paulomi Roy, a parent of a class 5 student, who was studying French from class 1 as second language, said, “This is not a relief for our kids. My child has been studying French from class 1 and she scores good marks. She got upset after listening to this.”
