English replaces Telugu in Andhra schools

English will soon replace Telugu as the medium of instruction and teaching at the government-run high schools in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The move, state government officials say, is aimed at shoring up standards in school education and to improve English language skills of the students.

Besides, Andhra Pradesh has also decided to replace the state syllabus with that of Central Board of School Education (CBSE) syllabus at 6,500 government schools from the new academic year beginning this month, reports IANS.

With IT and other knowledge-based industries throwing up many jobs in the state, the introduction of English with CBSE syllabus followed by computer studies could better prepare students, especially from rural areas, for future opportunities.

Education department officials said this was to ensure that students from rural schools were at par with their counterparts studying in private English medium schools.

The department Tuesday issued an order introducing English as the medium of instruction with CBSE syllabus from class VI in 6,500 select schools, covering over 250,000 students.

The move is part of the World Bank-aided project for Strengthening and Universalisation of Quality and Access to Secondary Schools (SUCCESS).

According to the new order, students of classes VI and VII of upper primary schools which are within two kilometre radius of high schools where English would be introduced as medium of teaching would be shifted to the nearby high schools along with teachers and other administrative staff.

The authorities have also made arrangements to train the teachers currently teaching Telugu medium syllabus. They would undergo training in English at reputed universities and institutes in the country.

Interestingly, while the government’s move to introduce English as medium of instruction has been welcomed by the teaching community and students, the decision to adopt CBSE syllabus has drawn flak from many.

The Andhra Pradesh United Teachers Federation (UTF) and the Andhra Pradesh Teachers Federation (APTF) have opposed the move to introduce CBSE syllabus and want the government to continue with the state syllabus.

They also fear that the merger of schools would also result in closure of many schools in rural areas.

The Joint Action Committee of Teachers Organisations has even launched protests against merger of schools.