The Human Resource Development ministry has decided to drop the German language in favour of Sanskrit for over 70,000 students across 500 Kendriya Vidyalayas from classes VI to VIII.
German envoy to India Michael Steiner hoped for a decision in the interest of students as the Chancellor Angela Merkel, raised the language row issue in schools with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Brisbane.
"I have been confident in that before, and I am now even more confident after the two leaders have talked about that and expressed their intentions to find a solution which is not in our interest, which is not in the interest of government, which is in the interest of countries and of people and of students," said Steiner.
The issue prompted German chancellor Angela Merkel to raise the issue with Prime Minister Modi who assured her of looking into it within the confines of the Indian education system.
During a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit, Merkel raised the issue with Prime Minister Modi besides inviting him to visit Germany.
Demanding the review of the HRD Ministry's decision to replace German with Sanskrit as the third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Aam Aadmi Party today said that the Centre must stop "playing" with the careers of thousands of students.
"The central government must immediately review its decision of having abruptly changed the third language which was being taught in Classes VI-VIII in 500 Kendriya Vidyalayas of the country, and it must stop playing with the careers of thousands of students," the party said in a statement.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led party also said that it is beyond any reasonable understanding that around 70,000 students who have been studying German as a third language since last three years have now been forced to study a new language barely four months before their final examination.
"It is shocking that the HRD ministry, which has consistently been in the news for all wrong reasons since the BJP central government assumed office in May this year, has once again imposed a mindless decision detrimental to the students interests," it added.
AAP said the central government should not implement this decision for the current academic session at least, and students of Classes VII and VIII who have been studying German as third language must be allowed to retain it.
