‘Introduction of English medium in govt schools illegal’ 

Warangal: Former chairman of Telugu Academy Velchala Kondal Rao has described the State government’s decision to introduce English medium as an illegal and undemocratic act.

Speaking to press persons in Hanamkonda on Sunday, he said for a language to become medium of instruction the State Assembly has to approve it. Kondal Rao is the founder-convener of Telangana Educational and Cultural Forum.

He said that during the Nizam’s rule, Urdu was the medium of instruction and official language. Later, 60 years ago, former CM Burgula Ramakrishna Rao had approved Telugu to serve both as an administrative language and medium of instruction under Hyderabad state, he added.

Kondal Rao said that the TRS government was introducing English the medium of instruction without eliciting the public opinion and it was not correct. The government should conduct opinion poll on the issue involving students, parents, intellectuals and educationists, he observed.

Acting unilaterally in introducing English medium in government schools just because parents prefer private schools offering English medium education is not correct. ‘It would lead to dropouts and make students fail as learning the language could be tough for students in rural areas,’ Kondal Rao added.

The notion that English medium helps in getting better jobs in the country and abroad was a false one, he said adding “To get a better job studying English as a subject is enough, one need not pursue studies in English”.

Further, there is serious shortage of teachers to instruct students in English medium and majority of government schools lack minimum facilities.

The government should first address such issues and then think of introducing English medium, Kondal Rao said adding ‘We are not against English’. Noted writer Ampasayya Naveen and Lok Satta advisor Parcha Kodandarama Rao have also stressed on the need for a debate on the issue.

Telugu should be continued as medium of instruction and English should be taught as subject, they felt.
A Round Table meeting on the issue is scheduled on Monday at 11 am at Kakatiya Degree College in Hanamkonda by Telugu Bashodyama Samakhya, Sahrudaya Mithra Mandali and Lok Satta involving students, parents and teachers, they informed.