Telugu must: Basics to be taught, no exams

Hyderabad: The state government has clarified that there will be no exam for students who are currently not learning Telugu that has been made mandatory for Classes 1 to XII in all schools from next year.

The decision has been taken to make students learn the basics of the language. For those already learning Telugu, exams will be held as usual.

The rule making Telugu compulsory will cover CBSE, ICSE and international scho-ols as well as Kendriya Vidyalayas run by the Centre.

The government will present a draft policy soon to clear any doubts. 

The existing TS Education Act, 1982, may be amended or a new Act may be passed to enforce the new rule.

The new language requirement announced by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on September 12 has created a lot of confusion among schools, students and parents, particularly because it is to be implemented immediately.

The main concern is how will students who have not studied Telugu will learn the subject all of a sudden and pass the exam. Concerns have been raised over the fate of students currently studying at secondary level (Class VIII to X) and higher secondary level (Class XI to XII).

Only a small number of schools in the state follow the central syllabus and international curriculum, in which there is no Telugu. Most CBSE and ICSE schools in the city and the state teach Telugu as the second language so the new rule will not pose any problem.

Deputy CM and education minister Kadiam Srihari will hold a meeting with education officials soon to draft the modalities for implementing the new policy.

“We will take all stakeholders into confidence before implementing the new rule. Representatives of schools from the state board, CBSE, ICSE and IB, will be consulted. The feedback of teachers and parents will also be taken,” he said.

Officials are now studying how Karnataka, which recently announced that Kannada would be compulsory, is implementing this rule.