State not to permit English medium of instruction

Bangalore, DH News Service:

The government, on Thursday, decided to move the division bench of the Karnataka High Court challenging the single bench’s order. The high court, in its order on April 6, had asked the government to give permission for English medium school from first standard in four weeks.

The government earlier had filed a special leave petition in Supreme Court seeking a stay on the High Court’s judgement. The Supreme Court on Wednesday, decided to take up the petition after the vacation.

Education minister Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri and Law minister Suresh Kumar, speaking to press persons after holding a meeting with officers of Education Department and government’s advocates, said that the government was firm on its earlier stand that the primary schooling for children must be in mother tongue. As the Supreme Court decided to take up the petition after the vacation, the government took the decision to move the division bench.

Asked why did not the state government move the division bench of the high court before moving the Supreme Court, Suresh Kumar said at that point of time the government thought that approaching the Supreme Court was a better option. “As the Supreme Court decided to take up the petition after the vacation the government decided to move the division bench in the high court”, he said.

KUSMA stand

However, the Karnataka Unaided Schools Management Association (KUSMA) has decided to act by the Karnataka High Court judgement. “The HC has given a fair judgement to the people and the state has to accept and honour the order. In case the Supreme Court gives a contrary order then there will be difference in the issue as we will not hesitate to approach United Nations to ensure children’s right to education. The government is not concerned about the careers of the future generation,” said G S Sharma, President, KUSMA.

“It is the beginning of the academic year, parents have enrolled the students to the schools, have bought the books, uniforms required for their wards’ class. As many as, two lakh students in the 1,500 private schools will be denied democratic rights if the State insists on its stand,” Sharma said. 

It may be recalled that the high court, in its judgement on July 2, 2008, had directed the government to allow primary school education in English medium. The state, unsatisfied with the judgement, moved the Supreme Court and sought stay on the High Court’s order.

Even as the petition was pending in the Supreme Court, Rajajinagar Education Society moved the High Court alleging that the State government was not implementing its order. The court on April 6 ordered the government permission for English medium school within four weeks. Now the government is moving the division bench seeking stay on the judgement.