The State government’s decision to start English medium in select government schools has not gone down well with writers and pro-Kannada activists here.
During a discussion at the Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha here on Sunday on starting English medium school, the participants opposed the coalition government’s decision.
They said that the government has taken this decision unilaterally without considering the suggestions of writers. This move of the government would finally lead to the closure of government Kannada medium schools, they said.
The sangha has decided to hold a hunger strike on July 12 in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Dharwad at 11 a.m, to demand that the government roll back the decision.
Hubballi- Dharwad West MLA Arvind Bellad extended support to the sangha and said that it should be the top priority of the government to protect Kannada language.
Total support will be given to the decision of the sangha which has decided to oppose the decision to start English medium in government schools, he said and added that the government should take steps to start Kannada medium from LKG.
Educationists too have advocated that teaching primary education in mother tongue would be useful to children as they learn it easily. However, the government has neglected the suggestions of educationists and writers and has embarked on starting English medium in 1,000 government schools, he said.
Sangha general secretary Prakash Udakeri, Venkatesh Machaknoor, B.L. Patil, N.R. Balikai, D.M. Hiremath, K.H. Nayak, Krishna Joshi and others participated in the meeting.
