There is currently a government consultation on education. The UK Government is proposing to make the following changes to the education system in the UK:
1. To introduce an ‘English Baccalaureate’ at ‘Key stage 4’ for 16 year-olds
2. To introduce a compulsory language at ‘Key stage 2’ for 7 to 11 year-olds
The inclusion of Sanskrit at these key stages has so far not been suggested. The Government is currently inviting comments on these proposals. Those at St James Independent School are proposing that Sanskrit, as a classical language, should be one of the examination subjects available for 16 year-olds and also that Sanskrit should be one of the classical languages which could be taught to 7 to 11 year-olds. We feel that Sanskrit is more likely to be accepted as a classical language in the UK. It seems likely that Greek and Latin will be accepted. Classicists have been campaigning for this. We now need a variety of people from different backgrounds to speak up for Sanskrit, so that it is at least ‘on the map’.
With Asia becoming more important economically, we feel that there is even an economic argument for including Sanskrit in the curriculum, as it is the key to the understanding of many Asian cultures. It is proposed that Mandarin is included at key stage 2. There is a danger that the non-inclusion of Sanskrit will marginalise it even more than it is at present. We would be grateful if you could make your views known to the government by completing the relevant sections of the response forms then sending it either by email or in hard copy to arrive before the closing date. Please see the following:
The key stage 4 details can be found at
This consultation closes on December 10th. The response form is attached and is also available on the site.
The essential parts to complete are the introductory section and section 23 which holds the key question.
The key stage 2 details can be found at
This consultation closes on December 16th. The response form is attached and is also available on the site.
Again the essential parts to complete are the introductory section and section 2a and 2b which hold the key questions.
‘The Sanskrit language, whatever be its antiquity, is of wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either, yet bearing to both of them a stronger affinity, both in the roots of verbs and in the forms of grammar, than could not possibly have been produced by accident…’ Sir William Jones – The Sanscrit Language (1786)
