No third language books in print, critics say how will students learn

Pune: The state govt has not printed any third language textbooks for students and teachers to follow even though it made a three-language policy mandatory for the state board's Marathi- and English-medium schools from Std I to V.
Std I students in mediums other than Marathi have not yet received Marathi books for the same reason.
The govt resolution (GR) on Tuesday said Hindi is no longer a mandatory third language and students can choose any other Indian language as the third language but a teacher will be available only if there are at least 20 students in the class. Otherwise, the language has to be taught online.
Officials from Balbharati, the textbook production bureau of the state, said that they can start printing the books only after receiving the work order from Maharashtra Prathamik Shiksha Parishad which is responsible for providing free textbooks in civic schools from Std I to VIII and in the open market.
Rahul Rekhawar, director of SCERT, said that the syllabus for Marathi textbook for Std I for students studying in mediums other than Marathi and English has been finalised, and the book is almost ready.
"Balbharati will be able to print the textbooks and distribute them across the state in about a month. For third language books of other languages, we will complete the process based on the same syllabus, which is very easy and interactive and focuses only on listening and speaking age-appropriate and need-based sentences," he added.
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Balbharati's director K K Patil said for third language textbooks or any other textbooks, they need to know the number of books to print. "The requirement order comes from Samagra Shiksha project under Maharashtra Prathamik Shiksha Parishad, which is the nodal body that distributes free textbooks to all local body-run schools and others for Stds I to VIII. Once we get an order from MPSP as well as the demand from the open market, we will be able to print the entire set within 10 days.
"
Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, said when they opposed the April GR making Hindi compulsory, the education minister promised a committee and dialogue to look into the third language controversy. But a decision was unilaterally made.
Mahendra Ganpule, spokesperson for Maharashtra School Principals' Federation, said govt's utter lack of planning is exposed.
He added that the syllabus must be approved and books printed and it will be 2-3 months into the academic year before students and teachers get them.
Head: Next year Would Have Given Ample Time
There has been widespread opposition to the third language policy
With no books for Hindi and other languages, experts are questioning the hasty GR without ensuring the availability of study resources
Educationists said that not only is the third language policy questionable, but also the timing of the order
They said changes in the syllabus or books are announced before an academic year starts and not after it
At least 80% of govt schools will not have 20 students in each primary class. It means they will not get a separate teacher for a third language. Why should students be made to study Hindi when most know Hindi to get by? There are no third language books printed yet. How will students learn and how will educators teach? Govt should have drawn up the syllabus before they introduced the policy. They should have started the third language next year and taken this year to plan, consult and get the books ready
Vasant Kalpande I Former State Board Chairman
The timetable given by SCERT shows that earlier one hour each per day was given for each language—Marathi and English in STd I and II—but now each of the three languages will get 35 minutes each. So for the same syllabus, Marathi and English need to be taught in lesser time as the teachers also need to teach a third language
Mahendra Ganpule I Spokesperson for Maharashtra School Principals' Federation

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