Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 28: "To prepare government school students to meet global expectations and also in order to retain and achieve growth of government schools, we propose to introduce English along with Kannada as a medium of instruction in a thousand more schools this year," revealed minister for primary and secondary education S Suresh Kumar.

He held video interaction with deputy directors of public instruction on Wednesday. He noted that English and Kannada have been adopted as mediums of instruction in a thousand schools already, and said the same would be extended to 1,000 more schools in the coming academic year.

S Suresh Kumar

He said that English as a medium of instruction will also be started in 400 Urdu medium schools.

The minister sounded a warning against neglecting Kannada. "Every school in Karnataka should teach Kannada. Educational institutions found neglecting implementation of Kannada Language Learning Bill 2015 will face action. Our department is committed to the strict implementation of the said bill. Every child studying in Karnataka needs to learn Kannada. Qualified teachers should teach Kannada to these children. Private schools in Karnataka should understand this and support this endeavour of the government in the interests of the children," he requested.

Kumar said that Kannada Development Authority has prepared a report on empowerment of government schools and that the main aim is to retain children in government schools. He said that the government does not want people working as coolies to spend 40 percent of their earnings by admitting children in private schools.