The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education 2023 has undergone a significant transformation from the initial draught proposals made in April of this year and made available for public comment. The NCF, which was published by the Centre on Wednesday, now requires the teaching of two Indian languages during classes 11 and 12 and three languages, including one Indian language, during classes 9 and 10.

The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), which is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasises the importance of learning three languages in order to foster multilingualism and an appreciation for India's rich linguistic diversity. Here are the three languages that will be discussed:

R1: The language used for both the initial literacy level and the medium of instruction (MoI). It should ideally be the language that students are most comfortable with, frequently their mother tongue or home language.

R2: This includes English as well as any other language.
R3: Any language not included in R1 or R2.

The state or appropriate authorities have the final say on R1, R2, and R3.

The NCF advocates learning three languages - R1, R2, and R3 - during school years. R1, typically the regional language, fosters a deeper connection to culture and identity. The goal is for students to attain independent reading and writing proficiency in R1 by age 8 (Grade 3), similar literacy in R2 by age 11 (Grade 6), and in R3 by age 14 (Grade 9). The curriculum strives for academic linguistic proficiency in all three languages by age 15 (Grade 10), with at least two being native Indian languages.

The benefits of learning three languages encompass enhanced cognitive skills, heightened cultural sensitivity, better job prospects, improved communication abilities, and expanded travel and study opportunities. The NCF 2023's emphasis on tri-lingual education marks a substantial stride toward nurturing multilingualism, equipping students for a globalized world and enriching India's linguistic landscape.