Telangana: Implementation of Telugu creates confusion among students, schools

HYDERABAD: Implementation of compulsory Telugu for class 10 students from the academic year 2022-23 has created much confusion among the students, teachers, and schools affiliated with other than the state board, as they questioned how students from one particular state can be asked to appear for an additional examination.
They said that if the students have to choose Telugu as the second language instead of the third, it would not be fair as they can't learn a language in less than a year, especially after two years of online classes.
"We have students from across the country. Some of them joined in class 9. How are they going to appear for the board exam in Telugu this year," questioned Mir Hafeezuddin Ahmed, principal, Nasr Boys School, which is affiliated with ICSE.
He said that ICSE schools will meet officials of the department of school education and submit a representation seeking clarification.
"We don't have a problem if our students need to take the subject as a third language. We are already offering it for students from class 5 to class 8. But, if they need to opt it as a second language, then it is going to be difficult and we need to find a way out," said Ahmed adding that we must promote Telugu culture and language, but imposing it as a second language is going to be challenging, especially as people from across the world study here.
Schools said that they are waiting for CBSE instructions as students register their subjects in class 9 itself and the same cannot be changed in class 10.
"Students and their parents are already under stress as students are back in physical classrooms after a gap of two years. If Telugu is suddenly imposed on students, they won't even have time to prepare for exams and will lead to further stress," said Lakshmi Vishwanath, academic director, Johnson Grammar School, which is affiliated with CBSE, adding that they are waiting for board's instructions.
She said that the school has been offering Telugu for all students as joyful learning activity so that students can have basics.
They said that though GO was released in 2018, not many took it seriously as they received no instructions from the education department back then. They said that only recently they have started receiving reminders from the state on this subject.