Kohima, April 10 (MExN): The Department of School Education (DoSE), Nagaland on April 10 has officially clarified that the Ministry of Education, Government of India has not “issued any instructions for making Hindi compulsory in the Secondary stage.”
The clarification came amid the row and sharp reaction over the reported recent statement by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah that all the “eight North East States have agreed to make Hindi compulsory up to Class X.”
It further pointed out that Nagaland follows three language formula up to class VIII and Hindi is offered as a compulsory language subject up to class VIII.
“In classes IX & X, students have the liberty to study either Hindi or anyone Modern Indian Language(Ao/Bengali/Lotha/Sumi/Tenyidie) or Alternative English as the Second Language,” added the clarification issued by the DoSE Principal Director Shanavas C.
It further informed that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advocates adopting three language policy up to secondary, but it does not impose any language on States.
The three languages learned by children will be the choices of States, regions, and the students themselves, it said, adding that it is clearly stated in the Policy No 4.13 of NEP 2020.
“The time line for the implementation of NEP 2020 is within 2030 and the Ministry of Education has not issued any instructions for making Hindi compulsory in the Secondary stage,” it added.
Among others, the Policy No 4.13 stated there “will be a greater flexibility in the three-language formula, and no language will be imposed on any State.”
“The three languages learned by children will be the choices of States, regions, and of course the students themselves, so long as at least two of the three languages are native to India,” it added.
