Former MP Urges Expert Committee on Three-Language Formula in Puducherry

M. Ramadass, former Member of Parliament and president of the Puducherry Maanila Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, has called on the government to establish an expert committee to evaluate the implementation of the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) three-language formula in the Union Territory of Puducherry. This directive requires affiliated schools to introduce a third language in Class VI, aligning with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. Ramadass argues that Puducherry’s unique historical context and the significance of French language education warrant a special exemption from this mandate. He contends that the existing two-language system offers practical advantages and that adding a third language would impose an unnecessary academic burden on students already facing competitive exam pressures. Furthermore, he expressed concerns that the policy could indirectly lead to Hindi dominance, raising fears of linguistic imposition. The proposed committee is tasked with preparing a comprehensive report highlighting these local nuances to submit to the Central government, advocating for language learning based on student and parental choice rather than administrative compulsion.