English-medium classes in 45 govt. schools in Mysuru district

Each Assembly constituency to have four schools that offer English medium in Class 1 beginning this academic year

This government school in Medar Block, Mysuru, will introduce an English-medium class from this academic year.

As many as 45 government schools in Mysuru district will be starting English-medium classes from this academic year. Admissions for Class 1 were expected to start shortly as preparations for the launch were under way.

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) identified the schools that were supposed to start English-medium classes as said by the coalition government. The medium of instruction in English will be in addition to Kannada-medium classes from Class 1 to 10.

Each Assembly constituency in the district will have four schools each offering English-medium classes. Mysuru has 11 Assembly constituencies and one school has been identified additionally in Mysuru Rural for the purpose.

Admissions to Class 1 were yet to commence as the teachers who have been roped in to teach all subjects in the English medium were being trained to take up the new responsibility.

Deputy Director of Public Instruction Panduranga told The Hindu that the schools introducing the English medium had been identified after taking into consideration their infrastructure and other facilities. Most schools identified run classes from I to X and a majority of them had good student strength.

The 45 schools were in addition to 12 Karnataka Public Schools established in the district whose medium of instruction is English. One school in addition had been identified in Mysuru Rural bringing the total number to 45, he said, adding that the Kannada-medium classes will continue as usual in those schools. The English -medium schools that are being launched include villages and towns in Chamundeshwari, Krishnaraja, Chamaraja, Narasimharaja, Hunsur, T. Narsipur, Periyapatna, H.D. Kote, Nanjangud, Varuna and K.R. Nagar Assembly constituencies.

For example, in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, an RMSA School in Marballi, which has been functioning for many years, and three more schools will offer English-medium classes.

The government higher primary and high school in Udbur village has 677 students. Likewise, schools in Hebbal and Rajendra Nagar has 631 and 642 students respectively.

“We are hoping for a good response from students for the English-medium class. We shall start distributing applications for admissions once all preparations are done and teachers complete their training,” Mr. Panduranga said.