Telugu compulsory in schools: Telangana overshadows Karnataka even?
- Telangana state government announced making Telugu compulsory from Classes I to XII in all educational institutions
- The government has gone a step forward and decided to make it into a law
- Previous governments too had passed orders to this effect but the school department did not implement the plan as it should've
FollowAfter a month, Telangana state government announced making Telugu compulsory from Classes I to XII in all educational institutions, the orders are yet to be passed. However, the government has gone a step forward and decided to make it into a law.
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The reason for doing this is an order can be challenged in the court and hence they have decided to pass a Bill instead. An official of the education department said that the Bill for this would be introduced in the ensuing Assembly Session.
Previous governments too had passed orders to this effect but the school department did not implement the plan as it should've. The state has Marathi, Tamil and Kannada schools, apart from those affiliated to the CBSE and ICSC. The government thought that unless it brought an Act, it would not be possible to implement this in all government and private educational institutions.
But imposing compulsory Telugu in all the schools is a very difficult task. Look at Karnataka's schools for example. Starting from 2018, all school children in Karnataka irrespective of boards will have to compulsorily study Kannada. The state government, in an order, has made Kannada compulsory in all schools, private, aided or government, across boards- SSLC, ICSE, and CBSE.
But this seems to have put the schools in a fix.Â
ICSE and CBSE boards have vehemently opposed the move. They say that they have many students from outside Karnataka who will find it very difficult to learn a language within a year. Karnataka CBSE association had also decided to move the court against the state government’s order.
Karnataka has decided to introduce Kannada in schools in phases, which means: A school will fully implement compulsory Kannada only by 2026. But Telangana has not spoken of using such a method in their state. The state is bound to face stiff opposition from ICSE and CBSE boards where children of officers and central government employees who have transferable jobs study. How is Telangana going to tackle such resistance? Hope they have a Plan B.
