Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, January 3
The Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) has told all Army Public Schools in the nation that regional languages won’t be taught in the schools. The directions in this regard have been issued.
The AWES has stated that “the provision of teaching a regional language is not practical,” hence, to standardise the system, no other language other than English, Hindi and Sanskrit would be offered at the schools. It also says that students of Class IX to XII can get themselves registered for regional languages but a teacher for the same would not be provided by the school.
AWES Additional Director (Academics) Dr RS Panwar said: “It is not that students won’t be allowed to go for regional languages. It’s about the availability of resources. A child is free to opt for a regional language but we won’t have a teacher for that. We want to go for a common set of languages which we can make available in our schools.” Dr Panwar confirmed that the directions would be applicable to 156 Army schools across the nation.
The instructions have been issued in a letter sent to all schools by the AWES Additional Director (Academics). The letter, issued on December 8, 2021, states: “All Army schools have a heterogeneous group of students belonging to different states, hence provision of teaching a regional language is not practical. It has come to the notice that some schools are following regional language and a separate teacher is being recruited for the same. To standardise the system, it has been decided that no other language other than English, Hindi and Sanskrit be offered for conducting classes and providing teacher at all Army schools. However, if a student wants to opt for any regional language, he/she would be allowed to do so. The school will get the student registered for that subject in CBSE LOC (IX-XII only) but the schools will not be able to provide resources (such as teachers) for the same. This fact may be informed to the parents of the concerned student too.”
While some schools have already informed the parents, sources said some schools were considering writing to boards to reconsider the decision. Schools are also said to be flooded with requests from parents regarding appointment of a teacher for regional languages.
A senior Army school functionary in the state said: “How can we not teach a regional language? People living in Punjab want their kids to learn Punjabi. We are thinking of asking the management to reconsider its decision.”
Bathinda Army School Principal Sukhdeep Kaur said: “A standardised language system will benefit students.” Jalandhar Army Public School Principal Saksham Singh said the school was following the new instructions.
Standardised system
A child is free to opt for a regional language but we won’t have a teacher for that. We want to go for a common set of languages which we can make available in our schools. — Dr RS Panwar, AWES Addl Director (Academics)
Regional languages won’t be taught at Army schools now
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