From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 5: In a big shot in the arm for Kannada protagonists, the Karnataka Knowledge Commission (KKC) has recommended Kannada, the mother tongue, as the medium of instruction in all schools up to Class 4 with English taught as the second language.

In a report on ‘Karnataka State Education Policy’ submitted to the State Government, KKC Chairman K Kasturirangan said: “As Kannada is the mother tongue of the majority population in the State and is also the State language, it would be most practical to have Kannada as the medium of instruction in all schools up to Class 4.”

The Karnataka Knowledge Commission (KKC) has recommended that grant-in-aid to be linked to performance of universities and colleges.

In a comprehensive report with as many as 200 recommendations on primary, secondary, higher and technical education, which was submitted to the State Government on Saturday, the KKC suggested grant-in-aid needs to be changed and funding from government must be tied to accreditation and learning outcomes.

The grant-in-aid is presently not linked to performance of universities and colleges and the policy must be changed for better results, it said.

The report on Karnataka State Education Policy (KSEP) said the performance of colleges must also be monitored by ensuring that all of them are accredited at regular intervals.

K Kasturirangan, eminent scientist and chairman of KKC, said universities should be encouraged to accredit themselves on a regular basis by globally rated agencies. They must aim to grow continuously and become internationally competitive at the earliest.

Proposals put forward by KKC for school education are:

• Guarantee of 12 years of school education for every child.
• Composite school system from pre-school to Class 12 in a single campus in every gram panchayat.
• Amendment to RTE Act to provide quota in private schools up to Class 12.
• Every girl child after completion of 12 years of school education must be guaranteed 3 years of college education.
• Appointment of Vice-Chancellors must not be politicised.
• Elections to positions in governing bodies must be abolished.
• Adopting CBSE curriculum; inclusion of specific topics relevant to the State. 
• Pre-service teacher education under Higher Education Dept.
• Phasing out stand-alone teacher education institutes.