It is official now. The Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government on Wednesday issued orders converting all classes from I to VI in primary, upper primary and high schools under all managements into English Medium from the coming academic year 2020-21.
According to GO No. 24 of the school education department, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), which had conducted a survey among the parents of the government schools, recommended to the government that English medium be introduced in all the schools from Class 1 to 6 in the coming academic year and gradually increasing each further class from the next consequent academic years.
However, all further steps in furtherance of implementation of the decision shall await and abide by the directions of the Supreme Court in the special leave petition to be filed by the government, the order said.
The order said the state high court, in its judgement, held that the decision taken by the government was not in conformity with the law and was forcing the students’ choice or on his behalf, his parent or guardian.
The high court also found that the SCERT which is the academic authority as per RTE Rules 2011 was not involved in the decision making.
Following the high court judgement, the government ordered that the parents’ choice be ascertained with regard to English medium in all the schools. And 96.17 per cent of the parents opted for English medium and only 3.05 per cent for Telugu medium.
Director of SCERT was also asked to give his recommendations with regard to providing primary education in English Medium.
The SCERT director also made several recommendations, including the one suggesting that many parents in the rural areas wanted their children to study in English medium.