New rule on third language in schools raises doubts about neglect of Kannada

BENGALURU: The state government has announced that Hindi and other third languages will no longer be compulsory subjects in schools, effective from this academic year itself.

However, the Education department’s decision has created confusion, particularly regarding the status of Kannada language in non-Kannada medium schools like Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, etc. The new rule, which makes the third language optional, has raised concerns about the potential neglect of Kannada language in these schools.

The concern is that while Kannada is currently compulsory in non-Kannada medium schools, the new rule may lead to students opting out of Kannada or prioritizing other languages like English.

Some of the issues arising from this decision include uncertainty about the status of Kannada in non-Kannada medium schools, possible neglect of Kannada language in these schools, confusion about whether students can opt out of Kannada if they choose another language as their third language, concerns about the impact on the teaching and learning of Kannada language and the possibility of protests from Kannada language advocates if the new rule is seen as diluting the importance of Kannada

The education department is facing pressure to clarify the rules and ensure that Kannada language is not marginalised. Some are calling for a separate rule to ensure that Kannada is given due importance, even as the third language is made optional.

Key points of contention include:

– The status of Kannada in non-Kannada medium schools
– The impact of the new rule on the teaching and learning of Kannada language
– The potential for students to opt out of Kannada or prioritize other languages
– The need for clarity and separate rules to protect Kannada language interests.