Kerala   

Stress on improving communication skills

The three language formula, very meticulously chalked out after Independence, was the wonderful brain child of stalwarts and eminent educationists. For a country like India with huge diversities, a combination of the local, the national and the English language is probably the best option. A clear understanding of any subject is best achieved if explained in the mother tongue. But it should not cause a frog-in-the-pond syndrome. As the child progresses in education and graduates to the upper primary and secondary levels, interaction with other parts of the country and even competence at the international level become a necessity. As most of the students at the higher secondary level aspire for higher education and selection is based on competitive entrance examinations, it is better to opt for English. One gets a working knowledge of the local language in the comparatively long period of five years after the primary class. Advocates of even higher education in local languages are unnecessarily stretching the issue of mother tongue and patriotism without realising the stiff competition that the poor child has to face in the future.

R. Narayana Iyer

Thiruvananthapuram

The preservation and popularisation of vernacular traditions have been challenging tasks even for linguistically homogeneous nations. It is all the more onerous for multilingual countries like India where English is fast becoming the lingua franca de facto across the country. The popularity of English and the compulsion to seek proficiency in it have caused a neglect of Malayalam in general among the younger generation especially in urban areas. Cultural and political leaders in Kerala have expressed their concern over what they call “mother tongue illiteracy.” Neglect of one’s mother tongue is culturally regressive. The government’s decision to introduce Malayalam as the medium of instruction in higher secondary schools has to be evaluated in this context.

The government has to tread with caution in the matter as the indifference to the local language is not on account of any deliberate neglect but out of compulsion to remain competitive in the globalised world. There has to be a balance between the need to preserve the regional language and the task of equipping the youth with English language skills to compete in the employment market. Considering the fact that professional education is imparted in English only, students with a Malayalam background will be at a disadvantage when they pursue higher education.

V.N. Mukundarajan

Thiruvananthapuram

Making Malayalam the medium of instruction in higher secondary schools is a retrograde step and nothing short of linguistic fanaticism.

While the different cultures all over the world are merging into a single universal culture, it is a pity that the Malayalee is being compelled to draw into a protective shell of his mother tongue. While knowing and being fluent in one’s mother tongue is ideal, it should not be carried to the extent of excluding proficiency and denying oneself international competitiveness. How will a brilliant student who has studied his subject in Malayalam exchange his thoughts with his friends from other countries? How will he contribute to foreign journals? How much will he absorb and assimilate from them?

The proficiency of Indians in English language is greatly instrumental for our being ahead of many countries in the matter of IT development. China and Japan are now coming out of their earlier shells to learn English and both these countries are recruiting English teachers on a large scale, especially from India. Once their students learn the language, both the countries will outpace India much faster. Where will the educated Malayalee be then?

George Thomas

Thiruvananthapuram

Most students aspire to learn technical subjects as they are aware of the impending changes in society. They also want to develop speaking and writing skills in English. They are conscious that these abilities will help wherever they go in future. It is a fact that the higher secondary education is the leverage to tertiary level for which they appear in entrance examinations. When the students complete the professional courses and get employment, they have to interact with people of different nationalities. English is the only language that will help them. If they should have the confidence to face the situation at the workplace, developing communicative skill is crucial. Following an English medium of instruction at the higher secondary school helps develop speaking and writing skills in a slow and steady pace.

N. Ramachandran

Vakkom

The recommendation of the government-appointed committee to make Malayalam as medium of instruction in higher secondary schools is a welcome step in our curriculum. School children should have the requisite base in the native language so that they can express their views without any hurdle. When they are taught any subject in their native language they can understand it thoroughly. At the same time, English should be taught from the primary level. When the students come to the higher secondary level, they should have a sound base in English. English grammar should be taught very systematically up to the higher secondary school level. It is not known why the teaching of English grammar in schools has been dispensed with. With a sound base in Malayalam and English, the students can pursue their studies in any discipline including information technology and research in English without any difficulty. This system was working very effectively in earlier days.

S. Paul Dhason

Thiruvananthapuram

From my experience during my MBBS period, students who were brilliant but studied in Malayalam medium schools started going down in their academic career trying to learn straight from European books which were the only source of medical knowledge at that time. My bench mate often sought me out for translations and reproduction of their essence in examinations. It was indeed an effort for him to survive in vivas as most of our examiners were from outside the state At last he had to take special course in English late in his career to fare in his examinations. The government should always keep English as medium for students who want to excel in science as they will not be able to go beyond a certain level in education with Malayalam medium.

It is better to be an educated linguist than a pure Malayali in view of the capacity of the State to provide jobs, which is the main aim of education.

Anil Peethambaran

Thrissur

The communication skills of majority of students in Kerala are very poor. Recruiting personnel of companies that participate in job fairs commented on this drawback of candidates from our State. At present and in the near future, job seekers from Kerala won’t get good jobs unless we equip them with excellent skills in reading, writing, speaking and understanding English. If the government changes the medium of instruction from English to Malayalam in the higher secondary classes, it is going to be a blow to the students from poor families. But once the students are given the freedom to opt either English or Malayalam medium, those who desire to take up jobs abroad or in the private sector in India can do their course of study in English. Hence, what is most needed is excellent lessons in communication in English to the students of Kerala.

K. Ramdas

Haripad

In the age of globalisation there is a constant threat to languages spoken in small geographical units in the world. In such a situation the future of our Malayalam is very much at risk especially when we are ready to accept a ‘global pattern.’ A language is a collective tool for the manifestation of a particular culture. When the society gives up its cultural traits as a whole, automatically its language also disappears.

P.R. Harikumar

Perumbavoor

Proficiency in English is quite essential to grab the job opportunities provided by the booming IT and tourism industry. Excellent communication skill in English is a must for our youth to increase their knowledge and earn a decent living. I firmly believe the government will not implement the recommendation.

N. Rajasekharan

Thrissur

English gives the youth of today a cutting edge in the job arena. It should be retained as an option for all students studying in public schools. Malayalam is neither a new language nor a subject for our students. Their skills in Malayalam are reinforced in all spheres of life. Higher secondary students should pursue English as a compulsory subject.

Mary Joshy

Kottayam

I am a proud Malayali and I am more comfortable in communicating in my mother tongue than any other language known to me. However, we cannot be linguistic fanatics. No community can survive these days without getting exposed to the English language. In the early eighties, the intellectuals in Kerala were concerned about English medium schools. They opposed such schools fearing that they will create two classes of citizens. But, all these protesters sent their own children to English medium schools only.

John Mathew

Thiruvananthapuram

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