Bengaluru: More than 5,000 private schools in the state have decided to knock on the doors of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), seeking permission to start English medium from STD I itself.
Presently, as per the new ‘renewal and registration’ policy adopted by the DPI, private schools are not allowed to run English medium between I STD and V STD.
“On Wednesday, the state high court has directed the DPI to process an application filed by a school about starting English medium instruction from Std I itself.
We have submitted several representations seeking permission to start English medium with Kannada as the First language. But till now DPI has not replied,” said Mr. D Shashikumar, general secretary, KAMS.
“High Court as well as the Supreme Court have struck down the language policy of the state government. Unfortunately, DPI is now pursuing delaying tactics. We have Kannada as the first language. But in the name of language policy, curative application, DPI is not allowing the schools to start English medium from Std I,” he charged.
“As the government has not bothered to resolve the issues arising after the Supreme Court verdict on language policy, now the government should act immediately to solve the tangle caused by unauthorized schools.” He continued, “The government is responsible for creating these unauthorised schools over a period of time in the name of language policy. After several attempts from representatives of the association, the language policy is still a neglected one,” he alleged.
“The government,” he urged, “at least now, should act as per the High Court directives and give permission for English medium. It should also provide permission for 6th and 7th standard to those who were denied all these years in the name of Language policy,” he reminded.
“The old schools should be treated as authorized and convert to the new system without charging additional fees, as per the new rule which has been passed on 11/11/2014. All existing nursery schools under one establishment should be registered without financial constraints and seek minimum required infrastructure, keeping in mind the larger interest of educational institutes and society,” he signed off.
From the academic year 2015-16, students from disadvantaged groups can apply for free seats available in the private schools under Right to Education (RTE), online. According to the decision taken by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) parents and students would be allowed to apply both online as well as offline. “We have already developed a software for this purpose. There is a provision to select schools and upload necessary documents,” informed an officer who is following the developments.
