While Ivan D’Souza, MLC and Parliamentary Secretary, has questioned the recent circular of the State Education Department restricting admissions to the newly-opened English medium sections in government schools to 30 students, Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister U.T. Khader has said that such restriction is necessary to provide quality education.
At a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. D’Souza said that it is wrong on the part of the Education Department to issue the circular on June 1 restricting admissions to English medium classes.
The circular, he said, goes against the decision of the State government to open English medium sections in government schools that has helped revive those schools. “It is a historic decision,” he said and added that it is binding on the government to provide English medium education to all students who are admitted to schools.
“I will discuss this with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and resolve the issue,” he said.
Khader’s stand
In another press meet here on Tuesday, Mr. Khader said that opening of English medium sections has seen good response with some schools recording intake of 100 and more students in Class 1. “We have to look at the availability of classrooms and teachers. It is our responsibility to give quality education,” he said, in defence of the restriction on the number of students.
The Minister said that government schools that have classrooms can be allowed to open more than one section for English medium with each section comprising 30 students.
“This is under discussion. We will shortly come out with a solution,” Mr. Khader said.
Members of School Development and Monitoring Committees from Dakshina Kannada, who have opposed this circular, have asked the government to give SDMCs the responsibility of providing quality education in government schools.
English medium has been introduced in 43 government schools in Dakshina Kannada from this academic year.
