Click to play videoBangalore: Over 1,400 schools in Karnataka have been asked to shut down because they use English as the medium of instruction.
The Karnataka government insists that the medium of instruction has to be Kannada. Royal School, which operated on the basis of government approval, in South Bangalore was among the schools found teaching in English.
A 1994 government order makes it compulsory for all government-recognised schools to use only Kannada as the medium of instruction till Class V.
"We came to know that schools have to close down. Like us, nearly 1,400 schools that teach in English have to shut down immediately. De-recognition means the government withdraws permission and we are left wondering what to do next," says Joseph Ravi, principal of Royal School.
The crackdown means that over 4.5 lakh children suddenly won’t be learning and parents wondering what’s the solution.
"Children are losers. You have to make an effort that an institution improves and not shut it down," says Latha, whose child studies in Royal School.
Parents, teachers and school officials suspect the government's action. They demand that the government explain why it didn’t implement the Kannad-only rule for 12 years and if schools are being penalised so must the officials who permitted the violation.
The state’s Education Department refuses to comment but the Kannada Development Authority, which brought up the whole issue, defends the closures.
“All these are children are from Karnataka, but they have neither learnt Kannada nor English properly. These unaided schools have not created the right atmosphere to groom and mould children," says T Siddalingaiah, director of Kannada Development Authority.
Parents and teachers say the language policy is discriminatory, as it allows schools given government permits before 1994 to teach in English. Educationists say the policy should be clear and English can’t be ignored.
"Government school students come from the lowest income group and many of them may not be able to complete their education. But if they learn English till Class X they might still have a whole spectrum of jobs open to them," says Maitreyee, an education.
Kannada or English—that’s what Karnataka is debating in this crisis.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
TOP NEWS
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
