The new National Education Policy (NEP) has recommended many changes for the smooth

implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The draft policy has proposed to segregate
the schooling system using the formula of ‘5+3+3+4’, where ‘5’ represents the 5 years of ‘Early
Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)’, ‘3’ represents the phase of primary schooling or from
classes three to five, next ‘3’ represents the next three years of education from classes six to
eight and the last ‘4’ represents the final years of schooling in India, i.e., from classes nine to
twelve.
Although, as highlighted by the NEP draft, all the phases of education are important, it is most
beneficial to invest in early learning according to UNDP and allied organizations. ECCE or the
‘foundation days of the child’ focuses mainly on nutrition, developing the physical & motor skills,
language, cognitive, social and emotional skills through no books policy, the introduction of
recreational activities and revisiting the “Three language formula”.

The Three Language Formula was devised in the chief minister’s conferences held during 1961.
The National Commission on Education, also known as the Kothari Commission, examined and
recommended a graduated formula that was recommended by the 1968 policy. The formula as
enunciated in the 1968 National Policy Resolution, provided for the study of "Hindi, English, and
modern Indian language (preferably one of the southern languages) in the Hindi speaking states
and Hindi, English and regional language in the non-Hindi speaking States"

So why introduce three languages at the early years of the learning? According to a study,
during the formative years, i.e., between ages 3-8, the neurons, building blocks of the human
brain, start making connections (synapses) with each other and form a circuit that strengthens
further with each new experience. What aides in strengthening the synapses are some sort of
familiarity in the language that new information is being received. Therefore, education in a
child’s mother tongue will ensure better participation and richer interaction and transaction in the
classrooms. This will lead to better outcomes for children as far as learning is concerned
because the stronger the neural circuit, the better the cognitive and learning skills of a child.

I strongly feel that the introduction of 3 languages is also a step towards an inclusive world. ..
Given that English is the lingua franca and Hindi is the language in which most of the official
work is carried out in this country, introducing the regional language as a third language and as
a recognized medium of instruction and learning will not only aide in better inculcation of
knowledge and skills but also help instill our traditional values as languages form the backbone
of our rich cultural heritage. It will also help improve the significance of the language and give it
a podium in the languages of the world. It will also develop new job opportunities as educators
for persons proficient in these languages. thereby, acting as an accelerator to the economy in
terms of employment.
Like every coin has two sides, similarly, the ‘Three-language Formula’ has its flip side too.
It might lead to an additional burden of learning a language on the children. Also, most of the
time, schools do not have or cannot afford adequate resources, in terms of staff or teaching-
learning materials, to instruct or teach in a third language.