Shillong, April 22: Meghalaya Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has written to the Union Education Minister urging the inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the language scheme of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), warning that students in the state may face disadvantages under the board’s new three-language policy set to be implemented from the 2026–27 academic session.
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| Meghalaya Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui. (File Photo) |
Speaking to reporters, Rymbui said CBSE’s revised language framework mandates three languages - R1, R2 and R3 - but Khasi and Garo are not included among the board’s recognised 44 languages. As a result, students in Meghalaya studying in CBSE-affiliated schools may encounter difficulties when the new policy takes effect.
Under the policy, three languages will become compulsory from Class VI starting in 2026–27, with board examinations in all three languages scheduled from 2031. Currently, Khasi and Garo are offered only up to Class VIII in CBSE schools as part of the mother-tongue instruction requirement under the Right to Education Act and the National Education Policy.
The minister noted that Meghalaya has nine private CBSE-affiliated schools along with institutions such as Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kendriya Vidyalaya and two functional Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Pahamsyiem and Samanda, while another 36 EMRS are planned across the state. More than 2,000 students from the state appear in CBSE examinations each year.
Rymbui said he had already raised the issue with CBSE officials soon after the notification was issued and personally met the board’s chairman to highlight the challenges faced by students if the languages are excluded.
He also pointed out that the Meghalaya Cabinet had recently reaffirmed Khasi and Garo as official languages of the state and stressed that their inclusion in the CBSE language scheme would benefit students while also creating employment opportunities for language teachers.
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The minister added that the state government would continue to pursue the matter with the Centre and suggested that expertise from the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) could be used for developing textbooks and academic material for Khasi and Garo if required.
Expressing optimism, Rymbui said he hopes the central government and CBSE will eventually introduce the two languages in CBSE-affiliated schools, which could also strengthen the demand to include Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
