Bangalore, Jun 13 (DHNS): The government will allow private aided schools change their medium of instruction from Kannada to English Class 6 onwards if they have necessary infrastructure, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri said on Tuesday.

He told mediapersons that about 341 schools in the State had sought permission to change the medium of instruction.

The current policy provides for education in Kannada language from classes 1 to 5.
On the opposition by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat to English medium, Kageri said he appreciated the concern shown by the Parishat.

“But a section of parents and elected representatives are demanding that English be the medium of instruction in government schools in the interest of students. Being a minister, I have the responsibility to listen to the demands of all sections of society,” he said.

Kageri said his department will organise on July 5 ‘Shaalegagi Navu Neevu,’ a programme to create awareness on the importance of Right to Education, across the State. All the elected representatives from the chief minister to gram panchayat members, will visit a nearby government school and take part in the programme, he added.