In a daring move, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has decided that the government schools will now use English as a medium of instruction.
A 1000 schools will switch to teaching in the English medium on an experimental basis, Kumaraswamy informed.
“When I announced it in the Budget, there was protest from the usual suspects. Some self-appointed custodians of the Kannada language had come to me with a huge delegation opposing it. But, I have decided to ignore them in the larger interest of the rural poor, who need to know English. We can’t deprive them of the English language and the opportunities it opens up to them. More than 90 per cent of those protesting has their children studying in English medium schools. I don’t bother about such things,” he said.
Announcing that the government will be sending its school teachers abroad for training, he said that a total of Rs 1000 Crore will be invested for this and the infrastructure development of the schools.
The political parties are divided over this issue, with the BJP as well as their coalition partner, the Congress, opposing HDK’s decision.
(PTI)
