Three or two? State's language formula triggers a debate

The state government’s plan to do away with the three-language formula has sparked off a heated debate in academic circles, with some favouring the move and others opposing it.

The plan originated as a recommendation from the Karnataka Knowledge Commission through a panel of industry veteran T V Mohandas Pai co-chaired by former University of Mysore vice chancellor K S Rangappa.

The panel recommended two language subjects from Classes I-IV with Kannada (or mother tongue) as medium of instruction and English as the second language. From Classes V-VII, the panel recommended three languages with medium of instruction and two others according to the students' choice. From Classes VIII-X, it favours two languages and one language in pre-university.

“Three languages are required till a certain level only. The burden of languages is too much in high school. This burden should be reduced so that learning of other subjects such as science and technology is encouraged,” Pai said. He advocated Kannada and English as the two languages in high school. “In North India, students learn only two languages,” he pointed out.

The plan to remove the ‘third’ language gels well with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s recent pro-Kannada push. The Kannada Language Learning Act, 2015, requires schools to teach Kannada as a compulsory subject — either as first language or second language — from Classes I to X in a phased manner.

“Stressing on only two languages in the secondary schools and one language at the pre-university level would strengthen the grip on the languages that the students are comfortable with, rather than struggling to grasp all,” said K M Naveen, MD at TRIO World Academy, a school in Sahakarnagar.

However, not everyone is convinced about the two-language formula.

“A child growing up can learn up to eight languages. The original idea of the three-language formula was to allow learning a local language, English and Hindi so as to make the child a citizen of the country,” educationist K S Sameera Simha said. “This formula has set in well with the cultural fabric of Karnataka where children, even those coming from outside, can learn whatever language they want.”

Associated Managements of English Medium Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) secretary D Shashi Kumar opposed the “unhealthy” move. “Students have the choice to study any language as third language. Why should we take away their choice ?" he asked.

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"The burden of languages is too much in high school. This burden should be reduced so that learning of other subjects such as science and technology is encouraged.” - TV Mohandas Pai