Academicians, members of Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Federation have said the State government has stirred a hornet’s nest by making English the medium of instruction in all municipal schools.
Expressing concern over the decision, many defined the move as detrimental to intellectual and emotional growth of students and acknowledged that students taught in mother tongue perform far better, especially at the primary level.
“Many students prefer Telugu medium over English medium. Considering their socio-economic factors and their comfort level in deciphering the information, English medium of instruction is sure to affect their academic performance. Instead of converting all the municipal schools into English Medium institutions at one stroke, thegovernment should consider ways to help students comprehend the subjects, involving more number of English teachers,” says Y.A.R.K. Prasad, district president of United Teachers’ Federation.
Suggesting a better alternative, general secretary of Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Federation B. Venkatapathi Raju said: “Initially, the government should focus on recruiting more number of English teachers and slowly ease the students into the language, so that they will be able to comprehend the subjects well.”
Many teachers demanded that the State government should suspend the implementation of G.O. No. 14 and provide alternative options, by giving the students a choice.
Terming it an initiative taken up against the Right to Education Act, MLC M.V.S. Sarma said: “English can be taught as a language but it cannot be made as the medium of instruction. The change meant for the little ones should be made by choice but certainly not by force as it will impact their learning process.”
Allaying apprehensions on the decision, HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said: “Telugu would not be neglected and steps will be considered to impart education in both Telugu and English media after discussing the same with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.”
