Shillong, April 22: Non-inclusion of Khasi and Garo among 44 languages of the Central Board of School Education (CBSE), which introduced a three-language policy recently, has been flagged by the state government to the central board.
Informing this Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday said he had written a letter to the Union Education Minister seeking inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the CBSE’s scheme of languages.
Rymbui, in his letter, warned that students in Meghalaya will be at a “disadvantage” under the Board’s new three-language policy from 2026–27.
Mentioning that the CBSE recently announced its policy of three languages – R1, R2 and R3 – the minister said in absence of Khasi and Garo in the listed 44 languages, “it would be very difficult for the students of Meghalaya”.
As mandated by NEP 2020 for mother tongue instruction at elementary level, Khasi and Garo are currently offered in CBSE schools only till Class VIII.
Under CBSE’s new policy, three languages will be compulsory from Class VI starting 2026–27, with Board exams in all three in Class X from 2031.
“The problem is what language they will take as exams will be conducted for R1, R2 and R3… there will be a problem for students of Meghalaya who are studying in CBSE affiliated schools such as JNV, KV and other private institutions,” he said.
The state has nine private CBSE-affiliated schools besides Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and two functional Eklavya Model Residential Schools at Pahamsyiem and Samanda, he informed. Another 36 EMRS are in the pipeline.
“More than 2,000 students every year will appear in the CBSE exams,” he added.
The minister said he had raised the issue with CBSE immediately after the notification.
“The moment the notification from the CBSE came out, I took time… I have met the chairman of the CBSE and explained to him that if Garo and Khasi language is not there in the scheme of language of the CBSE, the students of Meghalaya will find it very difficult.”
He added that the state cabinet had on April 16 decided that Khasi and Garo are official languages of Meghalaya.
“I have written to the education minister…and I will continue (to pursue the issue),” Rymbui said while expressing the hope that NCERT would prepare textbooks in Khasi and Garo in future.
He said inclusion of Khasi and Garo in CBSE’s list of languages would create employment opportunities in the schools and also strengthen the case for inclusion of the languages in the Eighth Schedule.
“I am very positive I will be able to convince the central government and CBSE in due course of time, Khasi and Garo will be taught in the CBSE affiliated schools,” he added.
