Onus on society to curb mushrooming of English schools: Chief Minister

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said society should take steps to prevent mushrooming of English-medium schools across the State.

In his address to people of the State on the occasion of the 60th Kannada Rajyotsava on Akashavani, he said English schools were coming up in large numbers both in urban and rural areas. The State government alone cannot prevent them. Society should take necessary steps, he added.

The misconception that English schools are meant for the well-off section and Kannada-medium schools are for the poor should go. If the well-off sections send their children to Kannada-medium schools, others will follow them.

“Development of Kannada language is possible only if the condition of Kannada schools improves. My government has been trying to improve the quality of Kannada schools in the State,” he said.

The chief minister said Kannada was the administrative language in Karnataka. Priority should be given to Kannada language in education and administration in the State, he said.
“We, the people of Karnataka, are open minded to accept all those from outside the State as Kannadigas. We wish that they learn Kannada, speak Kannada and use Kannada in their everyday life. But, we do not accept any move to impose other languages on us,” the chief minister said.

Kannada in administration

Siddaramaiah said his government was committed to implement Kannada in administration. To begin with, he said he would direct the officials to use only Kannada in the Cabinet section, the chief minister’s office and the State legislature, he said.

Rajyotsava procession

Several pro-Kannada organisations took out a procession on MG Road and Brigade Road, causing traffic hiccups for about 30 minutes. Traffic cops were pressed into service. As the procession moved towards Ulsoor, traffic was restored to normalcy.