Minister in charge of Mysuru district V. Srinivas Prasad on Saturday said there was no uncertainty in the State government’s stand that the mother tongue (Kannada) should be the medium of instruction in classes 1 to 5.
Speaking after presenting the Kannada Madhyama awards instituted by the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) here for students studying in Kannada-medium who score the highest marks, Mr. Prasad, who is also holds the Revenue portfolio, said the State government was responsible for deciding the land’s mother tongue as the medium of instruction.
Therefore, the State Cabinet decided to have mother tongue (Kannada) as the medium of instruction at the primary school level, he said.
The Minister said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had asked officials in all departments to strictly use Kannada in circulars and other communications.
Critic G.H. Nayak, in his address, suggested that students should also gain knowledge of English while studying in Kannada-medium.
KDA Chairman L. Hanumanthaiah, in his presidential remarks, said common and universal education should be made available at the primary school level. It was not the question of Kannada language alone but all regional languages, he said.
The top three SSLC and PU students from each taluk in districts coming under Mysuru division — a total of 170 SSLC students and 140 PU students — were felicitated.
The first prize winner got a purse of Rs, 8,000, while the students bagging second and third prizes took home Rs. 7,000 and Rs. 6,000 cash prizes respectively apart from mementoes, certificates and other articles.
