Germany raises language issue with government, hopes for pragmatic solution

NEW DELHI: Upset over HRD Ministry's decision to replace German with Sanskrit as the third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Germany has raised the issue with the government and hoped for a "pragmatic" solution.

"I talked to the government and on the basis of that I express my confidence that we will find a workable solution. In the end it is up to the government of India," German Ambassador Michael Steiner said.

"I think we will find a solution which takes care of the interests of the students who have expressed their desire to study foreign languages and I think I am pretty confident," he said.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani has strongly defended the decision, saying the existing arrangement was in violation of the three-language formula.

However, she said German would continue to be taught as an "additional subject of hobby class".

Steiner expressed confidence that there will be a solution to the matter.

"I am confident that this government finds a solution. We are talking about in fact a win-win situation. We are talking about something which is in the interest of students, something which is in the interest of India and also of Germany," he said.

About 68,000 students of classes VI to VIII, likely to be affected by the decision, will be given an option to pick the language of their choice as annual exams are barely three months away.

The KVs will provide counselling to the students. Irani said "an investigation" has already been launched into the signing of an MoU in 2011 enabling German being taught as the third language.