Jamshedpur, Jan. 5: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce different local languages in their curriculum in countries where the board plans to expand its base and extend affiliation to new schools in the future.

CBSE chairman Ashok Ganguly, who was in town to inaugurate the CBSE national athletics meet which started today at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, said: “We are slowly expanding our base and schools are looking for openings in countries like Malaysia and Singapore as well. We would introduce local languages like Malaya and Mandarin for local students. We are also restructuring the social science stream for foreign students, as one cannot expect them to study the social science of the Indian curriculum. ”

The board has similar plans for Thailand and Bangkok, Ganguly added. Asked about the availability of teachers in these local languages, the chairman said that the board has many part-time teachers and if required, the board would also think of tie-ups with local institutions like Max Mueller Bhavan to get teachers.

Ganguly said the board has introduced Japanese in their curriculum for Class VI students this year and they are going to do it for Class VII students from the next.

Ganguly further pointed out that the board is also looking to expand its base in different countries in the coming days.

While they are already in Malaysia, Singapore and Japan, they also want to expand it to Thailand, New Zealand and even Australia.

Speaking about the stress laid on sports in CBSE schools, Ganguly said that every school affiliated to the board has to have grounds of 6,000 sq. m.

“It is the minimum requirement of a school affiliated to the board. We are catering to a huge number of schools. It might not be possible for every school to have football or cricket grounds. But they should have indoor games-playing facilities like basketball or volleyball,” said Ganguly.

He added that the board also feels the need for recognition of the certificates given by it in their national level sports meet to be recognised by other boards, as well. “We are initiating talks with the sports ministry and we want that the states should cooperate with us.