Scrap GO No. 14, demands Right to Education Forum

Continue Telugu medium keeping English as a subject, says convener of Right to Education Forum
Visakhapatnam: Demanding the state government scrap the GO Ms No 14 (January 2, 2017) issued by the Municipal Administration Ministry to replace Telugu medium with English medium in all municipal schools, the AP Right to Education Forum will be conducting an opinion poll seeking public opinion on the government’s decision at Gandhi statue on Sunday from 10 am onwards.

Issuing the GO, Principal Secretary to Government R Karikal Valaven said the government after a careful examination has decided to convert all existing Telugu medium municipal schools into English medium from Class I to X irrespective of student and teacher strength with immediate effect from 2016-17 academic year. However, with severe opposition from many academic quarters and RTE activists, the government which has stalled the implementation of the GO in 2016-17, is now trying to implement the same from 2017-18 academic year.

As a prelude step to the GO, the government has earlier conducted foundation courses in some select municipal schools in the state to strengthen the knowledge base of the students from Class VI to Class X luring the parents that it would help their wards to face competitive exams and all type of CETs at state and national level.

When contacted, Convener of Right to Education Forum Narava Prakasa Rao told The Hans India on Friday that when there was a separate Ministry to look after Primary and Secondary education (presently known as HRD), how the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Ministry can issue the GO to replace Telugu medium with English medium.
He alleged that though the government had tried to implement English medium in all municipal schools from last academic year, it was forced to stall it following the intervention of RTE activists.

Prakasa Rao, who is also the senior most academician, said the government’s decision is against to the Constitution and also to the RTE Act-2009. He informed that it is the right of every child to get primary and secondary education in their respective mother tongue and the GO issued was nothing but violation of child rights. Quoting Secton 21(A) of the RTE Act, he said it was clearly mentioned that the children up to VIII standard must be taught in mother tongue-Telugu.

He further alleged that the government, which is contemplating to introduce English medium in municipal schools, will gradually extend the same to Zilla Praja Parishad and Navodaya Schools paving way to lift Telugu medium completely. Due to such unilateral decisions, lakhs of children will be out of schools as child labour and there are also no qualified teachers to teach English, he explained.

Prakasa Rao said that MLC P V N Madhav will launch the opinion poll to be conducted by the forum seeking public opinion on the government’s hire and fire decision on Sunday with his first vote adding that he has also raised the issue in the Legislative Council meet. The result of the opinion poll will be sent to the government, he added. Clarifying that they are not against English medium, but they demanded continuation of Telugu medium keeping English as a subject.