947 Kannada, Urdu government schools set to go English

MYSURU: In his 2018-19 budget speech, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had announced that English-medium classes would be held along with the existing Kannada-medium lessons in 1,000 government Kannada primary schools to draw more children. Now, the department of public instruction (DPI) is all set to introduce English medium in class 1 at 947 select Kannada and Urdu government schools across the state.
In Bengaluru Urban district, comprising Bengaluru South and North education districts, 122 government Kannada and Urdu medium schools will function as English-medium schools. The district accounts for the highest number of schools under the initiative.
S Jayakumar, director, DPI, said as part of the initiative, English-medium classes will be introduced in class 1 in the coming academic year. “The following year, it will be extended to class 2. The expansion will be taken up in a phased manner,” he added.
Asked whether DPI will introduce English medium in LKG and UKG as well, he said the department would keep that in mind.
As per the plan, four resource persons from each of the 33 education districts will be trained at Regional Institute of English, Jnanabharati, Nagarabhavi, in English teaching. “The 10-day training will start on April 29. After that, the resource persons will train teachers in their respective districts,” explained an official.
According to the documents, 947 Kannada and Urdu medium schools will have English medium in class 1 in the new academic year commencing on May 29. The number of schools covered under the initiative in Mysuru is 45, Tumakuru and Madhugiri 43 each, Dakshina Kannada 41, Ballari and Kalaburagi 38 each and Davanagere 31.
According to Nagasimha G Rao, director, Child Rights Trust, the government’s decision is child friendly and progressive. “But our concern is how will the teachers be trained. We want the education department to provide the best training to teachers before launching the scheme,” he said.
However, Manu Baligar, president, Kannada Sahitya Parishat, opposed the move. “We are against converting Kannada-medium schools into English medium. Instead, the government must improve infrastructure, which is the best way to protect schools and up enrolment,” he opined.