CM defends decision on English medium schools

Defending his decision to make English the medium of instruction in government primary schools, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said people opposing the decision should consider the problems faced by underprivileged families who wish to send their children to English medium schools.

Reacting to remarks by the 84th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana president Chandrashekhar Kambar and former president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Chandrashekhar Patil here on Friday, Kumaraswamy reiterated that his government is committed to protecting and promoting Kannada. At the same time, it is also concerned about the children’s future.

Endorsing his view on the need to make Kannada a medium of instruction in primary schools, Kambar, in his presidential speech at the inaugural session of the sammelana at the University of Agricultural Sciences campus at Dharwad on Friday, strongly pleaded that primary education from pre-primary and classes 1 to 7 should be run by the government in Kannada medium and private schools should be allowed to impart education from class VIII and above. He said this is the only way to save Kannada.

Countering Kambar, Kumaraswamy, in his inaugural address, said the medium of instruction has created a division in society with underprivileged children being deprived of quality education. As a result, several youths are failing to land good jobs.

“Parents of different sections prefer English medium schools to ensure good career for their children. It is not correct to deprive the children of one section of quality education in the name of saving the language,” the chief minister said.

“I am ready to discuss this issue with the experts and writers. Please come forward with valuable suggestions taking into account ground realities,” he said. Referring to Kambar’s remarks about the poor state of government Kannada medium schools, the chief minister said the government has finalised tender worth Rs 1,200 crore to provide all facilities to government schools and colleges.