Kannada must: State won't register English schools

LANGUAGE DEBATE: Time is running out as schools are set to reopen after vacations on June 1.

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Bangalore: Andrew Sherpa migrated to Bangalore from Darjeeling two years ago. A Math teacher, he is applying for a seat for his daughter in his school this year. But the state government actively discouraging English medium schools has him worried.

"We need global standards so obvsiouly, if they don't allow English to be the medium of instruction, the children are going to miss out on a lot," says Sherpa.

The state government had decided to make Kannada the compulsory medium of education in primary classes in 2008 - a move that drew flak from all quarters.

The High Court then told the government it can't force a medium of instruction on private schools. The government on its part went to the Supreme Court in appeal, which agreed to hear the plea but refused to stay the High Court's order. Yet, the government is refusing to register any English medium schools again this year.

The Education Minister of Karnataka, Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri says, "The government's stand is clear. We will go according to our stand and we will not give permission to English medium schools."

Nearly 3,760 schools across the state are in a dilemma now and with parents lining up for admissions, they say they will defy the government.

President, Karnataka Unaided Schools' Managements' Association, G S Sharma says, "We are applying for contempt. Our lawyer has already prepared the petition."

Schools also allege the state government is stopping them from shifting to the Central syllabii, even reportedly ordering a school in Mandya to close down.

President Modern English School, MS Khan says, "This government has made a rule that if you have studied in the Kannada medium from first to fourth standard, only then will it give a No Objection Certificate to apply for CBSE or ICSE syllabus."

Meanwhile, time is running out as schools are set to reopen after vacations on June 1. The government is reportedly meeting pro-Kannada organisations to discuss taking the fight forward.