The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Unaided schools in a fix over medium of instruction

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 06, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Unaided schools in a fix over medium of instruction

Bangalore Bureau

Some to re-apply for recognition before making changes

‘We will wait for specific orders from the Government’
‘Judgment will benefit children from middle- and lower middle-class families’

Bangalore: An important question before several unaided schools — which were earlier derecognised for flouting the language policy and have now been bailed out by the High Court verdict — is what they should do with children in Standard 1 and 2.

After 2006, children admitted to these schools are being taught in Kannada medium as per the Government’s order.

While some schools are intent on changing the medium of instruction of these children since they are young enough to catch up, others are unsure because of the larger legal implications. They say they will re-apply for recognition before making any changes.

G.S. Sharma of the Karnataka Unaided School Managements Association (KUSMA) is categorical when he says that the two classes will “switch over to English medium immediately” since they are “virtually free birds” following the verdict.

Applying again

However, N.S. Gnanamurthy, principal, Nandini Public School, is more guarded. He says that the derecognised schools will now re-apply to the department seeking permission to conduct classes in English medium for Standards I to IV.

“Right now, classes for standards one and two are being conducted in Kannada medium. We had filed a case in the High Court seeking permission to conduct the same in English medium. Until the judgment in that case is pronounced, we will maintain status quo,” he says. T.K. Narase Gowda, founder-secretary, Vishal Public School, also says that they will wait for specific orders from the Government before making the switch. “The order of the High Court was to the Government. They have to in turn give us orders,” he says.

“Hundreds of children from middle and lower middle class will benefit from the judgment. Now, English education has been made accessible to all,” says Mr. Gowda.

“We studied in Kannada medium because the Government had promised us jobs. The promise was left unfulfilled. Why should we deny the future generation of opportunities?”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka