THE REALITY: Although it is the prerogative of every child to go to school, and `education for all' is a popular slogan of our times, some unlucky ones do not seem to enjoy such a privilege. Most schools reopened in Bangalore on Friday. — Pho to: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: As another academic year begins, the school community is confronted with a slew of uncertainties. If impending derecognition is a source of tension for parents and students from schools that have violated the State's language policy, a possible change in school timings is a matter of concern for other schools.

In a major shift in State policy, first graders in government schools must learn English as a language — another area of controversy.

Syllabus changes

As if these were not enough, there are syllabus changes in the offing, and even demands to introduce Kannada as a compulsory subject in CBSE and ICSE schools in the State.

First standard students in 25,276 government schools in the State are getting ready to learn English amidst protests by pro-Kannada organisations.

Campaign

Govindaiah G., principal of Mulagal Valley Government School, and his staff did a door-to-door campaign urging people to send their children to his school.

"The introduction of English and our combined effort have increased enrolment in our school this year by 20 per cent," he claimed proudly.

For the more than three lakh children studying in the 2,215 derecognised schools in the State, the anxiety has increased following the High Court's ruling on Friday confirming the derecognition of schools coming under Karnataka Private Schools Managements' Federation.

Court directive

The High Court has directed the Government to admit these students in other schools.

There is increased pressure on the State Government by pro-Kannada organisations to make Kannada a compulsory subject in ICSE and CBSE schools in Karnataka..

Maithreyi Sathyadev, principal of Sindhi High School, Kumara Krupa Road, Bangalore, which is affiliated to the CBSE, said Kannada was one of the subjects taught in the school.

B. Abida, principal of Florence Public School, pointed out, "Our school follows the ICSE syllabus. The three-language formula ensures that students either study Kannada as a third language or second language."

School timings

School timings is another cause for confusion. While the Department of Public Instruction and the traffic police favour the advancement of school timings to 8.30 a.m., Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti says he is unaware of the issue.

H.M. Sowbhagya Lakshmi, principal of Indian High School, says that advanced school timings would create problems for children, parents and teachers.

"It is unfair to expect children to make such an early start. It is tough for the parents and teachers too. It is better if the school timings are not advanced."

And as children get ready with new satchels, water bottles and crisp uniforms, there are the 1.61 lakh children in Karnataka who remain excluded from the school system.

Their anxieties hardly find redress even though the Right to Education is enshrined in our Constitution.

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