LANGUAGES
 

Prof. B. Ganguly, Head, Department of Education in Science & Mathematics and Dean (Academic), NCERT, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi-110016 (24th September, 1990)

- Switching over from one medium to another is not mechanical process. If any one is affected, it is the learner. The last sentence of para x is an escape route for continuation of English by the priviledged class which is at present monopolising higher education.

Dr. H.S. Singha, Chairman, Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi - (24th September, 1990)

- The Three Language Formula is the most reasonable approach to the teaching of languages in a multilingual society like India and it should be implemented energetically and purposefully as recommended in the National Policy on Education - 1986. The CBSE faculty would be happy if the Review Committee could endorse this stand of NPE-1986 and if It could clarify its stand on the issues of the teaching of Sanskrit as a part of the Three Language Formula.

Dr. Ramjee Singh, Professor & Head, Department of Gandhian Thought, Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur - letter dated 29.9.90

- It is a poor reflection on the Committee and the education system that even after 43 years of independence it talks of a phased strategy for switching over to mother tongue on the higher levels of education. This infatuation for English at the upper level is

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the root cause of the growth of English medium commercial institutions all over India. The absence of a reference to Hindi in the perspective paper shows an undue fear.

Prof. G.S. Mudambadithaya, Senior Assistant Director, Department of Pre-University Education, Technology Education Buildings, Bangalore - Letter dated (1.10.90)

- While highlighting the role of Indian languages, it is most unfortunate that no reference has been made to English and its place in the scheme of education. It is a suicidal step at this stage.

Prof. J.S. Rajput, Joint Educational Adviser, Ministry of HRD, New Delhi, Letter dated 4.10.90

- With regard to the language issue, a factor that has to be kept in mind is the widely perceived advantage of a familiarity with the English language. This would necessitate a discussion of the provision for more effective teaching of English as a second language in the common schools to make them attractive vis-a-vis un-aided English medium schools.

Dr. D.A. Ghanchi, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, North Gujarat University, Patna-384265 - Letter dated 5th October, 1990.

- The Review Committee is unfortunately ambivalent regarding its stand on the medium of instruction at the tertiary level. Except the national level institutions like the I.I.T., the I.I.M. etc., nowhere do we find "teachers and students joining higher educational institutions from all over the country." Hence, in these national- level institutions the medium of instruction should be, as it has been, English. In the rest, it may be the regional language supplemented by Hindi or English as Library languages.

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- The Review Committee should explicate what it means by "Nehru's assurances" and unequivocally recommend that the three-language formula should be Implemented with all honesty and courage. It should clarify Its stand on English as a library language. This is necessary in view of the English bashing phenomenon that has recently cropped up in Indian polity.

Professor Dr. Omkar N. Wakhlu, Consulting Engineering, Buchwara, Old Gangribal Road, Srinagar-190001 - Letter dated 30.9.90

- It is suggested that every State capital should have a modern, well equipped, language Institution for teaching of other regional languages. Goethe Institutes of the Federal Republic of Germany provide excellent models for such language schools.

Prof. S.P. Mukherjee, Dean, Faculty of Science, University College of Science, Calcutta, Letter dated the 1st October, 1990.

- While existing books have been branded as unreadable, no steps have been suggested for preparation of suitable learning materials (including non-book materials) for different levels of education in different regional languages.

- At the primary level mother-tongue should be the medium of instruction. Besides mother-tongue children should learn the regional language right from Class-I and English from Class-II/IV. At the secondary and partly at the tertiary levels, regional language should be the medium of instruction. A student can offer any major Indian language (including his mother-tongue, if different from the regional language) as a subject of study upto the higher secondary stage. College teaching can be in the regional language.

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Shri G.D. Sharma, Secretary, Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, Orissa, Letter dated 2.10.90

- The medium of instruction in schools of a state should be the regional language of the state. The children of Central Government employees my be imparted school education either in English or In Hindi in Central Schools. But rest of the population should read in State language. In college level education may be imparted in English or regional languages as per desire of students. Sanskrit should be a compulsory subject.

Dr. R.P. Singhal, Executive Director (Retd.), NIEPA, Former Chairman, CBSE and Consultant (Education), Asian Development Bank and Ed.CIL, letter dated 5.10.90.

- The paper is silent on three-language formula. The formula has not worked so far. It is not practicable. Apart from political and emotional implications, it is too expensive to implement it throughout India. We need to be more pragmatic and straightforward on this issue.

Dr. A.C. Banerjee, Professor of Chemistry & Head, Department of Science, Regional College of Education, Mysore (26th September., 1990)

- The concept of imparting education through the mother tongue/regional language is not feasible for a large section of population living in other states/regions of the country and particularly in cities with large and medium levels of population. Provision for medium of instruction in English and the national language, Hindi, should also be made available in a large number of schools in all the States and particularly in all towns and cities.

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The provision of imparting education only through the regional language has already created major problems for people coming from other states and migrating to another State. All such efforts of language restriction will go against the concept of national integration.

Dr. Khem Singh Gill, Vice-chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (1.10.90)

- English should continue as language of instruction for higher levels of technical education. Compulsory introduction of Hindi as a medium of instruction for technical education may prove counter- productive.

Shri P.N.V. Narayan, Principal, Jnanodaya School, 135, I Block East, Jayanagar, Bangalore (27.9.90)

- The medium of instruction at the Primary level is a Gordian knot. People have realised the advantage of English medium at primary level. Those advocating mother tongue only as medium are a double-faced; they want mother tongue for others' children but English for their own children.

The question of medium is better left to the parents.

Shri Deepak Kumar Barua, Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Education, Journalism & Library Science, University of Calcutta, Calcutta (26th September, 1990)

- While the use of mother tongue is ensured as the medium of instruction at the initial stage, the language "at the tertiary level has not been spelled out. Besides, the paper does not mention the need for studying the Classical Languages like Sanskrit, Pali,

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Prakrit, Arabic and Persian at any stage, the literatures of which help a person to become humane.

Shri B.N. Raghurama, Organising Secretary, Bharatiya Shikshana Mandals, Kaveri No. 21, 6th Cross Chamarajpet, Bangalore

- Regional language learning has to be boosted. The child is more exposed to it than its mother-tongue. Upto the end of the secondary stage the medium of instruction should Invariably be the regional language. Higher education may be either in the regional language or in Hindi. English shall not be compulsory language at any level. It may be an optional language. The study of Sanskrit may be encouraged.

Ms. Anita Mathew, President, Navy Wives Welfare Association, INS Mandovi, Verem, Goa-403109 (4.10.1990)

- Language is the basis of all education; if man is unable to communicate his thought he will soon cease to want to think, thus defeating the very purpose of working towards an 'enlightened society'. It is wiser NOT to replace English totally as is being emphasised all the time by our educational policy makers, or do away with public schools. It is better to allow the rural population to learn their mother tongue in the primary level then English should be taught in a graded manner.

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Shri Kondapaka. Kishan Rao, Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, Pramukh Andhra & Tamilnadu, 17-1-391/V52, Saraswathinagar, Saidabad, Bhagyanagar, Andhra Pradesh-500659 (5.10.1990)

- The medium of instruction should be mother tongue at the elementary stage and at the higher level either mother tongue or regional language. English can be studied as an optional language. Sanskrit should be made compulsory upto secondary level.

Shri G.M. Verma, C-4/H/164-B, Janak Puri, New Delhi (October 4, 1990)

- In the Three Language Formula, Sanskrit should be included.

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