The State Government is geared up to introduce English as a subject in first standard in Kannada medium from June 1 in government schools, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti said on Friday.
During an interaction with the media, Mr Horatti refused to react to the threat by Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Chandrashekhar Patil to launch an agitation against the government’s decision. “We have decided to introduce English after much deliberation and also based on a survey report. We’ll go ahead with the decision,” he said.
Mr Horatti expressed his satisfaction over the High Court decision on the derecognition of 2,215 schools which violated the undertaking regarding the medium of instruction. “It is clear from the order that those who violate rules cannot get legal protection. The managements should refrain from misguiding students and parents on the medium of instruction. I appeal to the managements to abide by the Government Order”, he said.
The government will renew permission for unrecognised schools, provided they agreed to abide by the government’s terms and conditions. “We will also consider applications from those managements which have failed to pay the penalty. But they should have submitted the applications before May 15,” he added.
Asked how many derecognised schools had switched over to CBSE syllabus, Mr Horatti said the government had written to the CBSE not to accord recognition to such schools.
The government also proposed to write to the CBSE to accord permission for these schools only after they completed fifth standard and not before that.
On the demand for scrapping the trimester system in schools, Mr Horatti said no decision had been taken yet.
 “We have held discussions, but not yet finalised. As very little time is left before the commencement of the academic year, we may have to continue with the trimester system for another year”, he added.