Its really absurd and 'caught in something' act. In today world, we being forward to become a developed country, its absolutely irresponsible. By 2025, among global economies we are to be placed 3rd or above (todays life is totally driven by economy, means a higher standard of living).
In such a situation, countries like china, korea are pushing forward by putting native english speakers to train their kids for tommorrows world. Just speaking/communicating with English in the way what most do is not just enough for today itself. Then what about for tommorrow. Its all now of neutralizing your accent. SO ITS NOTHING BUT MOVING BACKWARD and bze of it your true competitor will be ahead of you.
Local language is must in curriculum but not in place of a national or international language which is meant for global communication. Why not able to think in this way!
The timing for the decision is incorrect. In the first instance, how is that the government is taking such a decision in the middle of academic year? These schools have been functional for the last many years. How is that the inspecting officials,AEOs,DDPIs did not bother to cross-check the affairs of the schools vis-a-vis the contents of the licence? In fact, these things (obtaining licence to run a Kannada Medium school and actually running it otherwise) will surface in the first three months. Is it for the parents to verify the licence of the schools before admitting their children? If that be so, government can make it mandatory for the schools to publish a copy of the licence in the prospectus itself. There are schools in the outskirts of the cities where, the government will find it difficult to relocate the children. For example, in entire 4-5 kms radius, only one school is being run which is being closed now, how the government proposes to relocate about 500 children? What about their safe transportation to the new schools? (with these, it is irrelevant to think of the children's psychology to adjust to the new environment. Let the public not suffer for somebody's cheating
I think we should understand the rationale before commenting on the issue.
It is very important to learn English, as not only it is very much necessary in today's competetive world, but also it acts as a common platform for the expression of opinions in a country like India where there are hundreds of languages.
At the same time, we should not forget that it is our mother tongue/local language which connects us to the mother land and help us in safe guarding its culture. From this back ground, we should have a strict 2 language policy so that both the objectives can be met.
Also, I would use this opportunity to put forth my view that Hindi need not be taught in Schools as a third language, as English itself is serving the purpose of bridging the people across different languages and cultures. Also, at times I feel that it is Hindi which is causing more damage to the Local languages especially in South India and not English as many people believe.
This is my request to rediff to not post such biased questions. Be a responsible medium. Posing a question like this "Is this a step backward or does it reflect the state's Kannada......" is highly deplorable. If the Govt. is taking action against erring schools, then how can this be considered a backward step? Who is preventing people from sending their children to english medium schools? Nobody. Pray, why should these so called schools be allowed to dupe the Govt. of aid (which BTW comes from tax payers money)? Dont give the outsiders in Karnataka another useless platform to bash our sentiments, especially when there is no issue at all. As a news medium, you have a duty to your readers. Present facts in the correct manner.
RE:Rediff, don't pose such biased questions
by jaya on Oct 17, 2006 10:44 AM Permalink
Very nice message.Rediff should have the manners to screen the articles before bringing them to public.Now a days in our country media like NDTV,TOI,Rediff are misleading people. Few news/articles they telecast or print is meaningless only.
Media should not run behind money. Media should direct the people towards right channel.
Please do not mix up things. All that the government wants is Kannada medium till Cl V in those schools who were accorded permission. It is their business as far the medium of instruction from Cl VI onwards is concerned. After all, many of us studied in Kannada Medium till Cl VIII and are doing better than most of the current generation who are educated in the so called public schools and convents.
Saar, I think too much importance is giben to Engleesh. I saw no good reason why engleesh learn we must. French not knowing engleesh, japan also no, germany also no, so why indian? Education is impotant, not engleesh..
I saw many of the them who posted their comments here were raising concerns/voices for 'English' which enjoys world's only vehicle of communication. It implies to me that to get bread and butter, you learn 'English' and forget mother tongue. I'm not saying we should not support 'English', but we should also take care of our mother tongue which identifies us uniquely in the world. That uniqueness should be preserved and should not be compromised at any cost.
I can say 'English' is like 'fast food', and mother tongue is like 'authentic food'. In this globalization era, no body cares for authentic food and prefers 'fast food' only. Then how can you preserve your identity without any compulsion. So it is no harm for the government to take this kind steps, but DON'T STOP LEARNING ENGLISH. This is not only for Kannadigas but for every one of us.
DON'T COMPROMISE FROM BEING COMPETITIVE IN THE WORLD AT THE COST OF LOSING YOUR IDENTITY.
The option to be given to the parents to decide their kids future,not in the hands of politicians,first politician sons & doughter should learn kanada or their mother tongue compulsary.
RE:Learning local language
by anand on Sep 30, 2006 11:18 PM Permalink
Being a linguist is not an easy job. Infact americans ( not europeans because many europeans can speak 2-3 languages) are awestruck that an indian especially a south indian can speak a minimum of 3-4 languages. Its a skill that doesnt come easily to people. Learning more languages speaks of the individual's mental ability. Yes, it adds to knowledge and does NOT complicate it. Granted that India has it's diversity, but we are still doing great and continue to do so.
If one gives too much importance to regional languages i think India will disintegrate into different regions.People from one region will not be able to talk to others from other regions.
Each region will want to have things according to its whims and fancies and thus there will be common policy.No wonder India is country difficult to govern.
What is the idea of learning to speak and write the SAME thing in 100 different languages???it does not add to knowledge ,rather complicates the body of knowledge and its development.
If it is culture issue ,then have a Special culture SCHOOL for specialisation in particular culture.
