Students in Kendriya Vidyalaya schools (KVs) will be able to opt for German as an additional foreign language, in conformity with the National Education Policy, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development announced on Monday, after signing a joint declaration of intent with Germany.
Through collaboration between Max Mueller Bhavan and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, German as a foreign language will be promoted in India while modern Indian languages will be taught in Germany.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Human Resource Development Ministry’s earlier decision to discontinue the teaching of German in KVs had escalated into a diplomatic row, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel raising the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in Brisbane last year.
On Monday, Smriti Irani, Minister for Human Resource Development, held bilateral discussions with Johanna Wanka, German Minister of Education and Research and agreed to enhance and deepen traditional ties. The two sides agreed to extend cooperation to the areas of science and technology, skills development, and the Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN).