Centre revises National Education Policy draft 2019 after outrage over 'Hindi imposition', revision states 'students free to choose any language they want'

Even as  Opposition in sourn states targeted  centre over National Education Policy 2019 (NEP 2019) claiming that central government is imposing Hindi langu on states, new policy has been revised with mention of Hindi as a compulsory langu in three-langu formula and stating that 'students free to choose any langu y want'.

NEP 2019 released by Centre is a document 484 ps-long document, in which a sub-section titled 'Implementation of three-langu formula' on p number 83 and 'Flexibility in three langu formula' on p number 84 states that three-langu formula would help raise status of all Indian langus in a 'multilingual country' like India and that  students can change one or more among three langus in Gre 6 and gre 7.

In fact, it highlighted that three-langu formula 'must be better implemented in certain States, particularly Hindi speaking States; for purposes of national integration' and because it would 'help raise status of all Indian langus'.

Here is what National Education Policy 2019 states on three-langu formula:

• Implementation of three-langu formula: three-langu formula will need to be implemented in its spirit throughout country, promoting multilingual communicative abilities for a multilingual country. However, it must be better implemented in certain States, particularly Hindi speaking States; for purposes of national integration, schools in Hindi speaking areas should also offer and teach Indian langus from or parts of India. This would help raise status of all Indian langus, teachers of such langus, and literature of such langus, and would open positions and increase opportunities for langu teachers across country; it would of course also truly expand horizons and enlarge range of opportunities for gruating students. re will be a major effort from both Central and State governments to invest in large numbers of langu teachers in all regional langus around country, and in particular all Schedule 8 langus. States, especially States from different regions of India, may enter bilateral agreements to hire teachers in large numbers from each or, in order to satisfy three-langu formula in ir respective States, and also to encour study of Indian langus across country.

Furrmore, NEP 2019 states flexibility in  three-langu formula, revising its previous take that Hindi will be third langu in n-Hindi speaking states under trilingual policy:

Flexibility in three-langu formula: In keeping with principle of flexibility, students who wish to change one or more of three langus y are studying may do so in Gre 6 or Gre 7, so long as y are able to still demonstrate proficiency in three langus (one langu at literature level) in ir modular Board Examinations sometime during secondary school (see P4.9.5). Since modular Board Examinations for langu proficiency will indeed test only for basic proficiency in each langu, such a change in langu choice in Gre 6 would certainly be feasible if student so desires and would in such cases be supported by teachers and schooling system. ditional choices of langus would, refore, be offered in middle school for this purpose of choice and flexibility. In keeping with principle of flexibility, students who wish to change one or more of three langus y are studying may do so in Gre 6 or Gre 7, so long as y are able to still demonstrate proficiency in three langus (one langu at literature level) in ir modular Board Examinations sometime during secondary school.