Telangana not keen on Sanskrit teaching in schools
State govt is instructing Sanskrit teachers to switch to teaching other languages
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-09-14 02:49 GMT
Hyderabad:The NDA government at the Centre and the Telangana government may be on a collision course over not teaching Sanskrit in schools in the new state.
At a time when the Narendra Modi led government is initiating measures to promote Sanskrit language in schools, the Telangana government is instructing Sanskrit teachers to switch to teaching other languages like Telugu.
The state government has already done away with the 20 marks for Sanskrit in the Class IX and X examinations, even though the move may not go down well with the NDA government.
As per the recommendations of an expert committee, the Telangana government had done away with the composite Telugu subject, which had Telugu for 80 marks and Sanskrit for 20 marks.
Officials reason that Sanskrit study in its current form is of no use to students. Now students will only learn Telugu and sit for the examination.
With Sanskrit language out of the state school curriculum, teachers are being asked to switch to teaching other language subjects like Telugu. The government reasoned that by learning the composite course of Telugu and Sanskrit, the official three language formula is being violated.
“Under the three language formula, students are to learn only three languages but by having composite courses with Sanskrit, four languages are being learnt which is in violation of rules,” Mr B. Manmadha Reddy, Director of Government Examinations said. He also said that Sanskrit study in the current form is of no use since students opt for it only to score cent per cent marks.
But, simultaneously, the Centre is also propagating Sanskrit study in schools under its purview. The recent diktat to celebrate ‘Sanskrit Week’ in schools also created a furore although most states are not against the ancient language.
“Central diktats are limited to CBSE schools only. So just because they are doing something doesn't mean we also need to do it. At the same time, we are not against Sanskrit study,” a senior school education department official said.
Mr Manmadha Reddy, however, added that he will submit a proposal to the government to incorporate Sanskrit as a standalone subject for the next academic year. The government will then have
to take a decision on it.