Principals of 19 CBSE-affiliated schools in Nagaland have written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan requesting a special exemption from the compulsory three-language policy. The May 23 letter highlights the region's unique linguistic diversity as a major barrier to implementation.
The letter explains that Nagaland is home to over 17 major tribes, each with distinct languages, and lacks a single unifying native tongue. English serves as the practical lingua franca, while classrooms often include students from more than 30 linguistic backgrounds. Textbooks and curricula for most local languages remain undeveloped at the school level.
Principals noted that students already study in English and face difficulties with Hindi due to teacher shortages and communication barriers. They added that many prefer foreign languages like French or German because of script similarities. The policy's push for Sanskrit as a third language from Class 6 creates further challenges without adequate materials or trained teachers.
The schools urged the ministry to grant a flexible framework or exemption suited to Nagaland's context. They also requested coordinated efforts with the state government to develop syllabi for major Naga languages and appoint qualified teachers. The letter warned that without such adjustments, the policy risks becoming an exam hurdle rather than an educational tool.
