Hyderabad: Starting next academic year, the Telangana State government has made Telugu a compulsory subject for all students in schools affiliated with different education boards in the State. As a result, many CBSE-affiliated schools have now made Telugu the only option for the second language. This sudden change has caused problems for students who do not speak Telugu.
Parents of non-Telugu speaking students are asking the government to make Telugu the third language instead of the second. They believe this would allow students more flexibility in choosing a second language that suits their needs and backgrounds.
Some parents have pointed out that schools made this change without any prior notice. They are concerned about how this will affect students, especially those who come from other states or families that move often. These students may not have the support or resources to quickly learn Telugu.
For example, Delhi Public School (DPS) in Bachupally is offering Telugu as a third language. However, its Nacharam branch has made it the second language. This difference between branches adds confusion. The situation is even more difficult for students entering higher classes, like Class IX, who have never studied Telugu before. They are expected to learn the language fast enough to pass board exams, which puts them under pressure.
One parent, Rahul Kejriwal, said, “We are not against Telugu being mandatory, but it should not be the second language. Many students, especially those new to the city, will struggle. The government should introduce Telugu as a third language gradually and let students choose their second language based on their interests.”
Another parent, Kamlesh Tiwari, shared a similar concern. “My son is in Class VIII, and suddenly we were told that Telugu is now the second language. We only moved to Hyderabad last year, and there was no such rule before. In 2018, the government talked about introducing Telugu gradually, but now it has been made compulsory all at once.”
Parents are hoping the government will reconsider the rule and make it easier for all students, especially those who are not familiar with Telugu.
