Introduction of English in Kannada medium schools demanded

Bangalore, July 7 (UNI) Members of the Karnataka Legislative Council, cutting across party lines, today demanded that the State Government introduce English as a subject from first standard in Kannada medium schools from this academic year.

Raising the issue of delay in implementing English and its negative impact on rural students, Mr Marthibbe Gowda (Ind) said the students coming from rural areas could not compete with their urban counterparts as they were not well versed in English.

Endorsing the views of Mr Gowda, Mr M P Nadagouda (JD-U) said the State Government should immediately implement English because such a system already existed in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

Mr Chandrashekar Kambar (Congress) demanded that the Common Entrance Test for professional courses be conducted in Kannada as a means to do away with inequality in education.

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj S Horatti said the Government would bring up the issue in the next Cabinet meeting and take a decison.

Leader of the Opposition H K Patil and Dr L Hanumanthaiah (Congress) also demanded that the Government introduce English from this academic year.

UNI SIV GD TS1605