Various private school managements across the State have welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on Tuesday on the medium of instruction at the primary level.
This is expected to provide a relief to around 12,000 elementary unaided schools across the State. V.R.N. Reddy, president of the Karnataka Unaided Schools Management Association (KUSMA), welcomed the verdict saying it was a victory to parents and the children.
D. Shashikumar, convener of the Karnataka Private Schools Joint Action Committee, said the verdict had put an end to all controversies with regard to medium of instruction.
He clarified that private school associations were not against teaching Kannada. “The State government can ensure that schools across all boards teach Kannada as a subject,” he said.
Mansoor Ali Khan, board member of Delhi Public School, said the judgment had put an end to the uncertainty.
Sanjana R., a parent, said while mother tongue played a crucial role in the formative years of a child, English was necessary as career options were better if the child learns in English.
A government school teacher said the verdict was likely to increase disparities among children in government and private schools. “Why should a child in a private school study in English and a government school child study in Kannada medium,” she asked.
What next?Sources in the Education Department said that although the State government had not given permission for starting English-medium schools for Class 1 to Class 5 since 1994, several schools were teaching in English medium after obtaining permission to run Kannada-medium institutions.
A Deputy Director of Public Instruction said that Block Education Officers were now likely to get applications seeking permission to start English-medium schools.
