The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Stop creating problems in the name of language: Biocon chief

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Friday, Sep 22, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Stop creating problems in the name of language: Biocon chief

Staff Reporter

Yediyurappa says it is important to teach English to children

ALL SMILES: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa distributing a mathematics book in Kannada, `Chinnara Ganitha', to schoolchildren after launching it at a government school in Hoskur village near Bangalore on Thursday. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon C hairperson, and gram panchayat president Nagarathnamma are seen. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chief Managing Director of Biocon, has appealed to the State Government to resolve the controversy over the violation of language policy by primary schools in the State.

She was speaking at a function organised to release a mathematics book, "Chinnara Ganitha", in Kannada at a school in Anekal taluk on Thursday.

Ms. Shaw said that unnecessary problems should not be created in the name of a language. "Any form of education is necessary... The controversy has created a lot of problems for children and parents," she said.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who released the book, said English education was necessary to enable students to compete effectively. Some people had a wrong notion that encouraging English would mean discouraging Kannada, he said.

Mr. Yediyurappa told presspersons that the Government would conduct discussions and resolve the controversy.

"People who are concerned about the development of the State know that it is important to teach our students English. But this should not hurt the interest of Kannada either," he said.

Self-help book

"Chinnara Ganitha" is self-help mathematics book in Kannada for students of first and second standard.

The book is a collaborative effort of Biocon Foundation and MacMillan India and aims at making mathematics fun for children by replacing rote learning with a clear understanding of basic math concepts.

Ms. Shaw said that the book was part of efforts by Biocon Foundation to include students from rural areas into the knowledge economy, of which mathematics was an important part. The author of the book was Prathima Rao, who teaches physics, computer science and mathematics at Baldwin Girls High School.

The book will be made available to students in Anekal taluk in the first phase.

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