From the year 2018, foreign languages such as French and German may not be a part of the three-language formula and will be offered as a fourth or fifth language in schools.

From the year 2018, foreign languages such as French and German may not be a part of the three-language formula and will be offered as a fourth or fifth language in schools. The idea has been communicated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) by the HRD Ministry.

“Languages which are listed in the eighth schedule of the Constitution should be taught under the three language formula, while languages which are ‘purely foreign’ should be taught as a ‘fourth language’ as an elective subject. Consultations are on with the CBSE and the changes are likely to be implemented from next academic session ,” a source said.

What is the three-language formula?

Under the National Education Policy, the three-language formula requires students in Hindi-speaking states to learn a modern Indian language, apart from Hindi and English, and in non-Hindi-speaking states, to learn Hindi along with the regional language and English.

However, a majority of the 18,000 affiliated institutions offer the mother tongue or Hindi, English and a foreign language such as German and Mandarin up to Class 8. Last December, the CBSE had sent the proposed three- language formula for secondary education to the HRD ministry setting off speculation over if as to when the new scheme would kick in.

The proposal has two major differences with the CBSE’s existing three-language formula that applies till Class 8. One, it extends the scheme till Class 10, and two, it does away with foreign languages as an option for students.