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DELHI: Hoping to close the chapter on German-Sanskrit row, the HRD
ministry is finalizing a new Memorandum of Understanding to be signed
with Germany. Significantly, unlike the earlier MoU that made German
third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas, the new one will be limited to
teaching the language as an optional subject.
The draft MoU will be vetted by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) before formalizing it with Germany. A ministry source said, "The government is not opposed to German. We only had problems with a foreign language becoming third language for KVS students. It was violative of the three-language formula and the national curriculum framework." The new MoU will ensure that KV Sanskrit teachers are not sent to be trained as German teachers. An element of reciprocity will also be introduced, the source said.
German ambassador Michael Steiner told TOI: "We are not aware of such an agreement. But I stand ready to sign such an agreement at any time."
The draft agreement comes weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Germany to inaugurate the Hannover Fair with Angela Merkel. Modi will be in Berlin for his first bilateral summit with Merkel in mid-April, and an outstanding problem on German language in Indian schools is the last thing the government wants. Modi and Merkel have already had to lower temperatures on the German-Sanskrit row during their meeting on the margins of the G-20 summit in Brisbane last November. Giving a readout of the meeting then, the MEA spokesperson had said, "The Prime Minister assured (Merkel) that he himself is a votary of young Indian children learning other languages. How it is best done within the confines of the Indian system, we will work it out."
Three specific clauses of the earlier MoU that will be changed include the introduction that KVS has taken a decision to offer German as a third language in its schools. Paragraph 2.1 of the earlier MoU said the purpose is to "introduce German in these schools as one of the third languages from classes VI to VIII". The same paragraph went on to state that under the MoU teachers from "within the KVS teaching staff" will be identified to be trained as German teachers. "All these will be changed," a source said. The HRD ministry has already decided to institute an inquiry against Avinash Dikshit, KVS commissioner, for his alleged role in making German the third language in KVs.
The draft MoU will be vetted by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) before formalizing it with Germany. A ministry source said, "The government is not opposed to German. We only had problems with a foreign language becoming third language for KVS students. It was violative of the three-language formula and the national curriculum framework." The new MoU will ensure that KV Sanskrit teachers are not sent to be trained as German teachers. An element of reciprocity will also be introduced, the source said.
German ambassador Michael Steiner told TOI: "We are not aware of such an agreement. But I stand ready to sign such an agreement at any time."
The draft agreement comes weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Germany to inaugurate the Hannover Fair with Angela Merkel. Modi will be in Berlin for his first bilateral summit with Merkel in mid-April, and an outstanding problem on German language in Indian schools is the last thing the government wants. Modi and Merkel have already had to lower temperatures on the German-Sanskrit row during their meeting on the margins of the G-20 summit in Brisbane last November. Giving a readout of the meeting then, the MEA spokesperson had said, "The Prime Minister assured (Merkel) that he himself is a votary of young Indian children learning other languages. How it is best done within the confines of the Indian system, we will work it out."
Three specific clauses of the earlier MoU that will be changed include the introduction that KVS has taken a decision to offer German as a third language in its schools. Paragraph 2.1 of the earlier MoU said the purpose is to "introduce German in these schools as one of the third languages from classes VI to VIII". The same paragraph went on to state that under the MoU teachers from "within the KVS teaching staff" will be identified to be trained as German teachers. "All these will be changed," a source said. The HRD ministry has already decided to institute an inquiry against Avinash Dikshit, KVS commissioner, for his alleged role in making German the third language in KVs.
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