Bengaluru, Jul 14 (DHNS): The state government has introduced Kannada as a language from Class I in all schools, while English has been introduced as a language from Class I in all government schools from 2017.

“The proposal to introduce English from Class I in all government schools dates back to 1998. The government has started English as an introductory language from this year,” Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait told reporters on Thursday.

“About 5,400 teachers have been trained at DIET, while the department has an agreement with RIE, Bengaluru, to train English teachers. Master trainers will be posted at 4,100 clusters to train primary school teachers to teach English. Textbooks have already been distributed,” he said.

Similarly, Kannada has been introduced from Class I in all schools. The department has already distributed textbooks. No Objection Certificate would be withdrawn if schools fail to introduce Kannada.

There are 62,000 anganwadi centres across the state. There is a proposal to bring these centres under the purview of primary schools. The department is in touch with the women and child welfare department in this regard, he said.

“The department will constitute a team of officers to hold education adalats to receive representations at district-level in all four divisions. The department will soon launch a four-digit helpline to provide information to the public,” said the minister.

Sait said, “The government is planning to scrap the rule of one-km radius for admissions to private schools under RTE. We plan to replace the one-km radius norm with area pin code norm. This year, the department has allotted 1.29 lakh seats, and redressed 41,000 complaints under RTE. Forty-six private schools have obtained a stay from the High Court on allotting seats under RTE and the government is trying to get the stay vacated.”

Guidelines under the new transfer policy would be announced by next week, while the transfer process would be completed within 20 days of the counselling, he said.

The department has decided to set question papers and evaluate answer scripts of students of two Kannada medium high schools in Goa. The government has written a letter to the Goa government seeking approval, Sait added.

The government would notify the recruitment of 10,000 primary teachers by July 20, to fill up 5,400 vacancies in Hyderabad-Karnataka region and 4,600 vacancies in other districts.

Priority would be given to local candidates while filling up vacancies. The government will shortly recruit 1,203 lecturers for PU?colleges.