JOIN USAmidst the row between private unaided schools and the State on the medium of instruction, parents and school managements clung to the July 2, 2008 High Court order to ensure that their children obtained the right education.
A parent, Sheela Ramu, captured the mood by this remark: “As parents we have been regularly following the news on the medium of instruction and we are not hesitant to send our children to the same schools, which the government claims to have derecognised. We are hopeful of the High Court order given last year that the right for medium of instruction rests with the parents. We want our children to be educated in English medium for many reasons like good career, job opportunities and overall development”. Sheela Ramu’s two sons are studying in a private school in Yelahanka.
As many as 1,500 private schools have been battling with the State over the medium of instruction although the Court order rendered has clearly declared that the right to choose rests with parents.
Another parent Rekha S K, said, “The Government has no say in what we choose for our children. The government schools are in a pathetic condition and there are no proper job opportunities for children if they study in the regional language. English is a global language which is used across the world. The State should encourage children, the future generation to excel and not deter their growth with stringent regulations.” Rekha had accompanied her daughter on the first day of the academic year to a private school in Basavanagudi.
Most schools, part of Karnataka Unaided School Management Association (KUSMA) had decided to go ahead with the academic year by putting up High Court Order in the school premises. The Rajajinagar Education Society have filed a contempt of court petition against the government for violation of the court order.
It may be recalled that the State government had filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court questioning the High Court’s decision to disallow the mandatory imposition of Kannada as a medium of instruction.
The Supreme Court ordered a stay on the Special Leave Petition.
HC notices to Dept officials
The HC on Monday ordered issue of notices to three State Education Department officials, including Principal Secretary, Primary and Secondary Education R G Nadadur, in a contempt of court petition alleging that they had not honoured the Court's verdict on the medium of instruction policy for private unaided schools. The petitioners, KUSMA and Rajajinagar Education Society had sought contempt proceedings against the officials for ''deliberate, wilful disregard and disobedience” of the Single Judge orders on April 6 to consider application of petitioners for starting English medium classes after the HC verdict on language policy.