Sanskrit to be taught compulsorily from class one in Uttarakhand

In a bid to promote Sanskrit and Vedic culture, the Uttarakhand BJP government has decided to make Sanskrit compulsory from class one in the state. It has also been decided that nameplates and signboards in state government departments and the state secretariat would also be put up in Sanskrit. As of now, the signboards are in Hindi. Sanskrit is already the second language of the state. Knowledge of Sanskrit will also be made mandatory for yoga teachers.

Uttarakhand School Education Minister Arvind Pandey, who also looks after the Panchyati Raj and Sports departments, said that Sanskrit will be taught compulsorily from class one to eight in government schools and those affiliated with the Uttarakhand School Education Board. Till recently, school students from class three to eight were being taught Sanskrit as a compulsory subject in government schools.

The minister said that the state government will approach National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) for framing the syllabus. The state education department also plans to set up two Sanskrit residential schools, one each in Garhwal and Kumoan to propagate Sanskrit .

School Education Minister Arvind Pandey said that those who wish to be yoga teachers in Uttarakhand would be required to have knowledge of the Sanskrit language. “This is an effort to link Sanskrit language with employment opportunities,” he said.

On the controversial issue of imposing a dress code on government school teachers, the School Education minister was adamant and insisted that teachers had to adhere to the state government’s directive to don new uniforms from Teacher’s Day i.e. September 5. The government school teachers are defiant on the same unless their other demands are met. The minister said that the two issues were different and could not be clubbed together.