As Smriti bats for Sanskrit, Modi comforts Merkel on German at G20
18 Nov 2014 5:07 AM IST
The move , according to agency reports from Brisbane, prompted German chancellor Angela Merkel to raise the issue with prime minister Narendra Modi who assured her of looking at it within the confines of the Indian system. Millennium Post was the first to report the matter in its edition dated 14 November 2014, which immediately drew sharp criticism forcing convening of a press conference by HRD minister Smriti Irani to clarify the matter. According to reports emanating from G20 summit in Australia, during a meeting on the sidelines of the summit, Merkel raised the issue with Modi besides inviting him to visit Germany.
‘Merkel did raise the issue of teaching German language in Indian schools. She raised in a manner requesting the Prime Minister to have a look in it and see what would be the best way forward. Prime Minister assured her (Merkel) that he himself is the votary of young Indian children learning other languages. He said how it is best done within the confines of Indian system, we will work it out,’ external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
In 2011 a memorandum of understanding was signed by KVs with Goethe Institute-Max Mueller Bhawan that made German a third language. HRD minister Irani had defended the move, saying the existing arrangement was in violation of the three-language formula. She, however, said German would continue to be taught as an “additional subject of hobby class.”
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