Chapter 1

NCERT
Class 10
Political Science
Solutions
4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools.
Promo GIF

Question:

The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended aban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.

Answer:

The ban defended by the Mayor of Merchtem is not in line with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements. The ban ignores the regional differences and cultural diversities. As 59 per cent of the population in the Flemish region speaks Dutch, the ban on speaking French in the town’s schools would prevent French and Dutch speakers to mingle with each other, and also create feelings of distrust and suspicion.

It is against the spirit of accommodating every linguistic group, and creating a right environment for everyone to live. This ban can possibly create division of the community on linguistic lines.

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