Karnataka schools seek clarity on CBSE’s three-language policy amid state law conflict

A forum representing over 5,000 unaided English-medium schools in Karnataka has expressed concern that fresh guidelines from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on its three-language policy do not address a conflict with state law requiring Kannada as a compulsory language.

The Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) wrote to the CBSE chairperson on Monday, seeking clarity on how students can comply with both the Board’s mandate and the Karnataka Language Learning Rules, 2017. Under the state rules, Kannada must be taught as either the first or second language in all schools, including those affiliated with CBSE.

KAMS general secretary D Shashi Kumar said the Board’s nationwide guidelines fail to consider state-specific policies. “The confusion still prevails. CBSE releases guidelines nationwide, but it needs to consider policies that states have adopted,” he said.

The CBSE issued the new guidelines hours before KAMS’s statement. While the Board eased some provisions, allowing students to choose from a list of Indian languages, the forum argues that the requirement to learn a third language remains unclear for Karnataka students who already study Kannada.

KAMS represents unaided private schools and has sought a meeting with CBSE officials to resolve the issue. The forum stressed that its aim is to ensure constitutional compliance and avoid penalising students for conflicting rules.

Under India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a three-language formula is recommended, but states have discretion in implementation. Karnataka’s language policy has been a sensitive issue, with previous disputes over mandatory Kannada instruction in schools.