Pvt schools with state sylllabus to learn Kannada from I standard

The Karnataka government has proposed a new language policy, making it mandatory for all private schools following the state syllabus to teach Kannada from the first standard. However, this policy will not be applicable to schools following ICSE and CBSE syllabus.

The language policy makes it mandatory for linguistic minorities' institutions to introduce Kannada from the third standard. English, which was being taught from the fifth standard in government schools till now, will be introduced from the first standard itself.

Announcing this at a news conference here on Wednesday, Karnataka primary and secondary education minister Basavaraja Horatti stated that the proposal will be placed before the state cabinet for its approval. "The new language policy will be implemented from the next academic year once the cabinet stamps its approval," he added.

"The policy is based on the Maharashtra model. It had to be reworked as there was a demand for introduction of English from the first standard in government schools," he added.