Education, Careers & Professional News
Kannada Must In CBSE/ICSE Schools?
Even as controversy rages over introducing English as a language in government schools, the Karnataka government has written to the ministry of human resources to introduce Kannada as a compulsory language in ICSE and CBSE schools.
The government`s move follows complaints that many central board schools in Bangalore do not teach the local language to its students. We have written to the HRD ministry and to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as well as the Indian Council for School Certificate (ICSE) to introduce Kannada in their curriculum, primary and secondary education minister R. Ramalinga Reddy told.
Though many central schools have welcomed the move, some fear that introducing additional language may be a burden on the child. With all the central schools following the three-language policy, Kannada is taught as the second or third language in some of these schools.
According to the ICSE council, every student must study an Indian language. At present, local students are studying Kannada in my school while NRI students study French. Even if Kannada is introduced, it must be taught only as a third language which is from class five. Local language must be given its due importance, Vasantha Edward, principal, Baldwin Girls School, said.
But the scene is different at the Kendriya Vidyalaya schools where students are already studying three languages compulsorily – English, Hindi and Sanskrit. If Kannada is introduced, it will be the fourth language for the children. But if the Board wants us to do it, we have to fall in line, T.G. Chaudhary, principal, Kendriya Vidyalaya (Victoria Road), stated.
But the school is already conducting after-school classes in Kannada for those who want to learn it.
Frank Anthony Public School principal Christopher Browne said anyone who wants to make Bangalore or Karnataka their home must study the local language. We teach Kannada as the second or third language except for outside state students. I instruct my teachers to teach communication skills in the local language which will help the children, he said.
Noted Kannada writer and litterateur L.S. Seshagiri Rao said parents who wish to settle down in Bangalore must learn the local language. It is only fair that they learn Kannada. Similarly, Kannadigas who go outside the state must learn that language, Rao stated.