Karnataka to Start English Classes in 4,134 Schools
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The Karnataka government has decided to establish English medium courses in 4,134 public primary schools across the state as part of a major effort to raise academic standards and promote English language acquisition. The government is starting this project as part of its attempts to overcome the language obstacle and raise the academic achievement of students in public schools, especially those in rural and semi-urban areas. Following a governmental directive authorizing English to be used as the medium of instruction in a few of primary schools, the Karnataka Department of School Education and Literacy formally declared the result. Beginning with Class 1 in the next school year, the initiative aims to progressively grow to encompass more upper grades throughout the course of the years. The ministry of education has made it obvious that the curriculum does not exclude Kannada or any other local languages. The state’s dual language policy will stay the same, and Kannada will still be a mandatory subject. Given in particular national and worldwide educational trends, the authorities claim that the goal is to give pupils an extra linguistic advantage rather than to replace Kannada. According to the government’s study, schools with sufficient personnel and a good infrastructure can address the requirements of this change. The caliber of the student body, geographic reach, the presence of knowledgeable professors, and degree of community involvement help to choose these institutions. Including local stakeholders and School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) in the selection process guaranteed public support for the rollout. Moreover, the government has begun to train and enlist English-speaking instructors fit to teach in the current setting. Some teachers have had special training to enhance their communication skills and teaching methods. The growing desire of parents for English-medium teaching in public schools, especially in underprivileged regions where parents cannot afford private school tuition, motivates this move. Many parents have worried for years that their kids’ absence of English competency would make it difficult for them to find prestigious employment or pass challenging examinations. Teaching English as the language of instruction, the administration believes, will help even the playing field in terms of educational chances and possible employment possibilities for these pupils. Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said that the decision matched the NEP 2020’s general aims of promoting multilingualism and inclusion and also aims to strike a balance between the demands of mother tongue education and those of an ever more linked society. He emphasized the government’s dedication to making sure no young person is left behind because of language obstacles. Notwithstanding this, many people keep condemning the program. Several scholars and fans of the Kannada language have raised the possibility of its marginalization. They claim that youngsters learn more efficiently in their native tongue during the first few years of life; consequently, an early migration to English might compromise their emotional connection to the subject matter and their grasp of ideas. Some have warned that this behavior could eventually erode local identity and cultural groups. Government agencies have stressed in response that Kannada will always be needed and that bilingual instruction will be used as fit, especially during the transition phase. Maintaining the linguistic legacy of the state, they have also given top priority to the inclusion of regional educators and communities in program execution. English-medium instruction is expected to be tightly supervised in public schools. The state will often assess learning outcomes, teacher performance, and student feedback to guarantee the project’s success. Karnataka hopes this bold project will motivate other states with problems in their public school systems with access and language. The government seeks to give underprivileged children from private schools a top-notch English education by building the necessary training and facilities.
