Karnataka Govt Expands Schools Due to Rising English Medium Demand

Karnataka Govt Expands Schools Due to Rising English Medium Demand

Last Updated Feb - 16 - 2024, 06:51 PM | Source : HT | Visitors : 30

Madhu Bangarappa, Karnataka's Minister for School Education and Literacy, announces plans to meet the demand for English-medium education.

Madhu Bangarappa, Karnataka's Minister for School Education and Literacy, told the Legislative Assembly on Thursday that the government plans to provide English as a language of instruction in more state-run schools in response to increased demand and to increase enrollments.

The minister said there is a huge demand for English medium schools in the state and, in the next three years, the government wants to open 500 more Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), that also offer English medium of instruction, in addition to Kannada. Bangarappa was responding to Tirthahalli BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra who said government schools are being closed because parents want their kids to get English medium education. "There is a huge demand for English mediums. As the government, we have a responsibility to take steps by also giving priority to Kannada...(but) parents themselves want an English medium for their children," Bangarappa said.

Studies by the school education department on why an increasing number of children were quitting government schools mainly cited the lack of English medium education along with factors like inadequate infrastructure, he said. "The solution is to offer both mediums in government schools so that parents can choose. Our intent is to provide both mediums." English as the medium of instruction is being offered in about 300 KPS, he told the house. "The government's target is to have one KPS for every two gram panchayats. Parents are willing to pay for English education, and the same can happen in government English medium schools with the help of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding. There is good response and small level investments," he added. In the next three years, the government wants to open 500 more KPS, Bangarappa said. "It can’t be done overnight because it requires creating infrastructure and teachers who can teach in English. Also there are certain guidelines for the recruitment process."

Further stating that his department wants to bring back kids who have quit government schools, the minister said, "We want to create a system in which both mediums of instruction are run on the same premises. "But, if the number of Kannada-medium students becomes less, it will send out a different message. That should not happen... Also, in several schools, there are only five students. We need to handle that carefully," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rewari, India, in the presence of Governor Shri Bandaru Dattatreya. Modi also inaugurated several development projects in Haryana, with Chief Minister Manohar Lal, Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh, and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala also present.

Expressing his elation at the ceremony, Prime Minister associated the rapid speed of transformation of the health sector in the country in keeping with the rising aspiration of the people. He highlighted the vision of Viksit Bharat and underscored the importance of the health sector in propelling the country towards that vision by 2047. Stating that “only a Viksit Haryana can lead to a Viksit Bharat”, he said that “infrastructure development also entails better healthcare facilities and health is an intrinsic part of the country’s development agenda”.

The Prime Minister said, “this foundation laying ceremony of AIIMS Rewari is line with the Government’s commitment to prioritize the public health infrastructure and strengthen citizen-centric health services through holistic development of the Health sector.” He said that “AIIMS Rewari will not only cater to the healthcare needs of Haryana but will also create jobs for the youth and provide them with opportunities to pursue medical education”.

The Prime Minister said that the last 10 years has witnessed the approval of 15 new AIIMS and more than 300 new medical colleges including one medical college in each district of Haryana.

Terming the foundation stone laying of AIIMS in Rewari by the Hon’ble Prime Minister as “a historic day for Haryana’s Healthcare ecosystem”, Union Health Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that “it will immensely benefit the people of Haryana as well as of neighbouring states by ensuring access to great quality and affordable healthcare”.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Manohar Lal thanked the Union Government for fulfilling a long-cherished wish of the people of Rewari for provisioning one AIIMS in the region. He stated that “AIIMS Rewari will provide valuable medical service not only to the people of South Haryana but also to the nearby region of North Rajasthan”. He also hailed the decision of the Union Government to assign one medical college in every district of Haryana as a landmark in providing healthcare service to the last mile.

Shri Rao Inderjit Singh underlined the importance that the government has given to enhance infrastructure development in the country. He said “the same push is also being given in creating and upgrading health infrastructure which is evident in the commitment to expand the network of AIIMS in the country to 23.”

Background

The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has approved the establishment of AIIMS, Rewari in Haryana. The PMSSY aims to address regional imbalances in the availability of affordable and reliable specialized health services and enhance medical education facilities in India.

AIIMS of Haryana is one of 22 new AIIMS approved under PMSSY, with 15 approved since 2014. The new AIIMS, Rewari, is being developed at a cost of Rs 1650 crore on 203 acres of land in Majra Mastil Bhalkhi village in Rewari district.

The 750-bed hospital complex includes a medical college, nursing college, residential complex, hostels, guest houses, auditoriums, and shopping complexes. The institute will provide high-quality patient care services in 17 super specialty and 18 specialty departments, including cardiology, gastro-enterology, nephrology, urology, neurology, neurosurgery, medical oncology, surgical oncology, endocrinology, burns, and plastic surgery. The institute will also offer better healthcare benefits to the underprivileged population of remote areas through community outreach through its digital health infrastructure.

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