Karnataka: Education panel moots two-language policy

Bengaluru: The State Education Policy (SEP) Commission has recommended a two-language policy in school education and that Kannada or the mother tongue must be the medium of instruction up to Class 5.

The Commission, headed by former chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Sukhadeo Thorat, submitted its report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, after almost two years. 

The commission was constituted in October 2023 following the Congress' poll promise to scrap the National Education Policy (NEP). 

If the two-language policy is implemented, then the existing three-language structure will go.

"The Commission is proposed to mandate Kannada/mother tongue as the medium of instruction at least until Class V, and preferably up to Class XII. Alongside this, a two-language policy should be implemented, comprising Kannada or the mother tongue and English," reads the report. 

It is already mandatory for schools to teach Kannada as either a first or a second language subject.

However, to support the policy, it has also recommended teachers' training. "To support this policy, teachers must be trained in bilingual teaching methods, and a dedicated Language Teaching Centre should be established," it stated. 

This recommendation comes as a boost to the government's proposal to have two-language policy. Siddaramaiah had recently said the government favours a two-language policy amid a campaign by pro-Kannada activists to scrap Hindi at schools. 

The government will take decision on the implementation of the report after placing it before the Cabinet.

The NEP mandates a three-language policy. But Karnataka has rejected the NEP and in keeping with the poll promise, it constituted an expert committee to frame the state policy. 

The commission has stated that it has made recommendations to retain some of the present positive policies while in some, it has suggested reforms, and in a number of spheres, it has suggested new policy initiatives.

Structural reform 

Another major recommendation is structural reforms. It recommended a 2+8+4 model, which includes two years of pre-primary, eight years of elementary, and four years of secondary education. In addition to the restructuring, it is important to retain small schools to ensure access and equity in education, and to avoid arbitrary closures, the policy states. The NEP has recommended a 5+3+3+4 model.

To strengthen early childhood care and education (ECCE), it is recommended to attach two-year pre-primary programmes to existing primary schools. An ECCE Council should be formed and coordination ensured to enable integrated departments. Additionally, private pre-schools must be brought under a dedicated regulatory framework. 

Admission age

It has recommended to standardise the admission age for Class 1 to 6 years (±3 months). This was one of the concerns which parents and schools used to deal with every year. 

Right to education

Addressing one of the long-pending demands, the Commission has recommended extending right for free and compulsory education (RTE) from the  existing 6 to 14 to 4 to 18. 

Teacher appointments

Expressing concerns over the quality education, the Commission has recommended discontinuing appointment of teachers on contract basis. "All vacant teaching positions must be filled with qualified, regular staff. Additionally, the working conditions of teachers in private schools should be improved through appropriate regulatory measures," it said. 

Regulation of private schools

Stressing on privatisation of school education, it has recommended for strict enforcement of fee regulations and obligations related to admissions under the Economically Backward Sections (EBS) quota and establishment of dedicated regulatory body for private schools. 

There were a total of 35 task forces, 16 for school education, 16 for higher education, and 3 for Professional education with a total of 379 experts. Out of these, 166 were from the school education, 170 from higher education, and 43 for vocational education. In the last two years the Commission held 42 meetings and the task forces held 132 meetings and the Commission held 59 interactions with various stakeholders on school education and 73 on higher education.

The final report of the Commission has been consolidated in three volumes, comprises a total of 2,197 pages.