‘Third Language Should Start In Class 6’: SC Says Board Exam Pressure Begins After Class 8 | Education and Career News
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SC said language should not be introduced in class 9 but earlier as students already face increasing academic pressure from the end of Class 8 as they begin preparing for boards.
The revised CBSE framework requires students to study two Bharatiya Bhashas (Indian languages) and one non-native language. (AI Image)
The Supreme Court on Thursday said that a third language under the CBSE curriculum should be introduced from Class 6 and not Class 9, observing that bringing in a new language at the secondary level places unnecessary stress on students preparing for board examinations.
“Why do you introduce a new language in 9th? You introduce it in 6th,” Justice B V Nagarathna observed during the hearing of a matter concerning the Tamil Nadu government’s challenge related to the Centre’s three-language policy.
The Court said students already face increasing academic pressure from the end of Class 8 as they begin preparing for Class 10 board examinations.
“Please don’t have third language in 9th standard. CBSE, ICSE, State Board, 10th standard is a board exam. From the end of 8th standard onwards, the pressure starts,” the Court observed.
Justice Nagarathna said introducing languages earlier would give students more time to learn and adapt before appearing for major examinations.
Recalling her own school experience, the judge said students in middle school were introduced to additional languages, allowing them to complete the requirement before secondary examinations.
“In the middle school the third language was started because that was required for SSLC. The earlier, the better,” she said.
The observations came during the hearing of the Tamil Nadu government’s appeal against a Madras High Court order directing the state to facilitate the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in every district. During the proceedings, the state’s counsel raised concerns over the Centre’s three-language framework.
Justice Nagarathna also clarified that the National Education Policy’s three-language formula does not mandate Hindi as the third language.
“The State language has to be taught, English has to be taught and any third language. It doesn’t say Hindi,” she said.
The Tamil Nadu government’s counsel submitted that the state’s objection was not against any particular language but against introducing a compulsory third language only from Class 9.
The revised framework requires students to study two Bharatiya Bhashas (Indian languages) and one non-native language. The policy will apply to students entering Class 9 in the 2026-27 academic session and Class 10 in 2027-28. Students who fail to clear the internal assessment will not be awarded the Secondary School Examination pass certificate.
The Supreme Court suggested introducing a third language from Class 6 instead of Class 9 to ease board exam stress for students.
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