Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has written to the Union Education Minister seeking inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Central Board of School Education (CBSE)’s scheme of languages, warning that students in Meghalaya will be at a “disadvantage” under the board’s new three-language policy from 2026–27.
“Recently, the CBSE has mandated that the three languages – R1, R2 and R3 – and in the scheme of language of CBSE, Khasi and Garo are not there. So, it would be very difficult for the students of Meghalaya because Khasi and Garo are not included in the 44 languages of the CBSE,” Rymbui told reporters on Wednesday.
He said Khasi and Garo are currently offered in CBSE schools only till Class VIII, as mandated by the RTE and National Education Policy for mother tongue instruction at the elementary level. However, 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 and exams will be conducted for R1, R2 and R3… So there will be a problem for the students of Meghalaya who are studying in these CBSE affiliated schools like JNV, KV and other private institutions,” he said.
Rymbui said there are nine private CBSE-affiliated schools in the state, besides Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and two functional Eklavya Model Residential Schools at Pahamsyiem and Samanda. Another 36 EMRS are in the pipeline.