As promised by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in his 2018-19 budget, 41 government schools (including government colleges that have schools on their premises) in Dakshina Kannada district will introduce English as medium of instruction in order to boost attendance.
With an aim of making government schools on par with private English-medium schools, the government had taken a decision to introduce English as medium of instruction in 1,000 schools across the State.
DDPI Shivaramayya told DH that 63 teachers had completed training to teach in English medium schools. As a part of the initiative, English-medium classes will be introduced in first standard from this academic year. It will be extended to second standard from next academic year. The expansion of English medium classes will be taken up in a phased manner, he added.
Schools with good enrollment and facilities were identified for introducing English medium classes.
Regional Institute of English, South India, had imparted the training to the teachers. Textbooks, audio and video kits were readied by the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (DERT).
The textbooks will be supplied by the government for the English medium schools as well. In fact, schools like Daddalakadu had already introduced English for the students since 2016 and the school had seen a drastic increase in admission of children.
List of schools
The schools that will introduce English as medium of instruction are Dakshina Kannada ZP Higher Primary Schools in Kanyana, Narsha Maidana, Suribailu, Pudu, Daddalakadu, Naravi, Belthangady, Poonjalkatte, Saralikatte, Bandaje, Kallarakodi, Deralakatte, Amblamogaru, Kumpala, Talapady Pattana, Munnuru, Kavoor, Mullakadu, Kolavooru, Katipalla 5th Block, Malali, Bengre Kasaba, Balmatta, Attavara, Mallikatte, Moodushedde, Mijar, Neerakere, Konalu, Bolanthimogaru, Keyyuru, Guthigaru, Gandhinagara in Sullia and Sampaje in Sullia.
Further, in DK ZP Model Higher Primary School-K S Rao Nagara, Government Model Higher Primary School-Vittal, Government High School-Muthooru and Karnataka Public School-Bellare.
That apart English medium will be introduced in DK ZP PU College-Kumbra, DK ZP PU College-Uppinangady and Government PU College-Kanyana.