APPENDIX G : CONSIDERATION OF THE VIEWS OF STATE GOVERNMENTS ON THE TWO LANGUAGE FOMULAE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, RECOMMENDED AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE BOARD.
At their 23rd session held at New Delhi in January, 1956 the Central Advisory Board of Education while discussing at length the place of English in Secondary Schools resolved to invite the opinions of State Governments on the advisability of adopting either of the following two three language formulae proposed at that Meeting:-
1. (a) (i) Mother tongue (ii) or regional language (iii) or a composite course of mother tongue and a regional language.
(iv) or a composite course of mother tongue and classical language.
(v) or a composite course of regional language and classical language.
(b) Hindi or English.
(c) A modern Indian or a modern European language pro- vided it has not already been taken under (a) and(b) above.
2. (a) As above.
(b) English or a modern European language.
(c) Hindi (for non-Hindi speaking areas) or another modern Indian language (for Hindi speaking areas)
2. State Governments were accordingly addressed in the matter. The views expressed by them have been summarised in the statement enclosed. (Information received up to 1st December 1956 has been included). In all replies have been received from 19 States of which one (Assam) is in favour of formula 1, Orissa, Hyderabad, Kutch, Travancore-Cochin, Andhra, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Ajmer, Coorg, Rajasthan in favour of formula 11 or a modified version thereof, and Madhya Bharat, Madras, Bombay are yet considering the matter. Four States viz. Delhi, Saurashtra,Punjab and Bhopal are opposed to the idea of making three languages compulsory. The Board is now requested to consider these views and give its further advice in the matter.
3. Mention should also be made of certain recommendations made by the Conference of State Education Ministers held at New Delhi in September on the teaching of English in Secondary Schools. These are briefly summarised below:
(1) Having regard to the necessity of learning a modem European language for further studies in Science and Technology, it was decided that
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(a) English should be taught as a compulsory language both at he Secondary and the University stages and
(b) The State Governments should take such steps as may be considered appropriate to ensure that, at the end of the Secondary stage, students acquired adequate knowledge of English so as to be able to receive education through this language at the University level.
(2) English should not be introduced earlier than Class IV. The precise point at which English should be started at the middle stage was left to each individual State to decide.
(3) The following formula was approved in regard to the study of languages at Secondary Schools :-
(a) (i) Mother tongue. (ii) or Regional language, (iii) or composite course of mother tongue and a regional language (iv) or a composite course of mother tongue and classical language. (v) or a composite course of regional language and classical language.
(b) English.
(c) Hindi (for non-Hindi speaking areas) or another Modern Indian Language (for Hindi speaking areas).
The University Grants Commission has set up a committee under the Chairmanship of Pandit H.N. Kunzru to examine the problem of medium of introduction at the University stage and to recommend ways and means of securing adequate proficiency in English at the University stage. The Committee has not yet submitted its report.
Summary of replies received from State Governments regarding the two language formulae communicated under item No. 11 of the proceedings of the 23rd Session of the Central Advisory Board of Education held in January, 1956. (based on replies received up to 1st December 1956)
Name of State Comments
1. Delhi. In the original syllabus drawn up by the Secondary
Education Council the study of three languages has
been suggested according to the curriculum under
Group A. If the students have to study three
languages, it would mean that they will have to
study eight subjects in all, out of which they
will have to take examination in seven subjects
and would be dropped after two years. The study
of seven subjects would be a heavy burden on the
students. If the recommendations has to be
implemented, the first formula could be easily
dropped. However, the first formula is more
suited for Hindi speaking areas and the second,
for non-Hindi speaking areas.
2. Saurashtra Hindi must be made compulsory for non-Hindi areas
and English or a foreign language should only be
voluntary.
3. Punjab The two language formulae suggested by the Central
Advisory Board of Education are not likely to suit
either the needs of modern India or fit in with
the curriculum of Middle and Senior
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Basic Schools. English is not a compulsory
subject in Senior Basic Schools or in the Middle
classes in many States. Further, several States
are planning to change the language of
administration from English to the regional
language or Hindi in the near future. For these
two reasons, it is not desirable to make English a
compulsory subject for the Matriculation
Examination. English should be a compulsory
subject only for those who are going up for higher
studies in a college or University. Only a
knowledge of regional language and Hindi should be
compulsory for all at Matriculation stage.
4. Bhopal Bhopal is a Hindi speaking area and the State
Government are in favour of teaching only two
languages, Mother-tongue i.e. Hindi (National
language) and a second language which will either
be English or any other modern Indian Language.
Teaching three languages will be over loading on
the language aspect of the curriculum.
5. Orissa State Government are in favour of the Second
alternative.
6. Hyderabad. The Education Department of the State Government
are in favour of the second formula, suggested by
the Board.
7. Bihar The principle of compulsory learning of three
languages at the Secondary stage has been accepted
in this state. All candidates whose mother tongue
is not Hindi learn their mother-tongue, Hindi and
English. The question whether another regional
language be learnt by those whose mother-tongue is
Hindi will be examined at the next meeting of the
Board of Secondary Education.
8. Travancore- The State has adopted the under-mentioned formula
Cochin with regard to the study of languages and has
found this to be working well-
(1) From Standard VI-(i) Regional Language or a
composite course of Regional language and
classical language, and (ii) English.
(2) From Standard VII and upwards-
(i) Regional language or a composite course of
Regional language and classical language,
(ii) English and (iii) Hindi (All compulsory)
(It means that the State Government favour the Second Formula).
9. Madras The matter is under examination.
10. Madhya The required information is awaited from sub-
Bharat ordinate offices. It will be sent as soon as
received.
11. Ajmer The State Government feel that only two languages
instead of three be taught compulsorily in
Secondary schools. If three languages are made
compulsory, apart from increasing the load of
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the curriculum, there is likelihood of opposition
from Hindi speaking students if they are required
to study compulsorily another Indian language.
However, the State will have no objection to learn
any southern language compulsorily if the South
agrees to learn Hindi as a compulsory subject.
12. Tripura Agrees to the recommendation of All-India Council
for Secondary Education about compulsory study of
three languages. Languages to be studied in
Secondary schools of Tripura should be as per
alternative drawn up by the Council viz :
(1) The Regional language or a composite course
of the Regional language or the mother-tongue.
(2) English.
(3) Hindi.
(In other words the State is in favour of the Second Formula)
13. Andhra The Second formula suggested by the All-India
Council for Secondary Education will be followed
in this State, with the modification that the
study of English will be compulsory.
14. Assam The State Government prefer to accept formula I.
15. Bombay Matter is under consideration.
16. Coorg Three languages (Regional Language `Kannada'
English and Hindi) are being taught in Secondary
Schools. In new Higher Secondary Schools also,
three languages have been introduced, namely-
(a) Regional language under grant A(i)
(b) Hindi (This being a non-Hindi speaking area-
under grant A(ii))
(c ) English.
This arrangement is in accordance with the
Secondary Education Commission Report.
17. Uttar The State Government suggest the following (a
Pradesh slight modified form of Second formula :- (1) (i)
Mother tongue (ii) or regional language (iii) or
in composite course of mother tongue and a
regional language.
(iv) or a composite course of mother tongue and
classical language.
(v) or a composite course of regional-language
and classical language.
(2) English or a modern European Language.
(3) (a) Hindi for those who do not take Hindi
under 1(i) above.
(b) Another modern Indian language for those who
take Hindi under 1(i) above.
18. Kutch The second formula is preferred.
19. Rajasthan The State of Rajasthan being a Hindi speaking
area, there is only the question of third language
being introduced at Secondary stage, the other two
being Hindi and English. About the third
language, the matter is under consideration.
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