The Hindu

Mangalore, Sep 18: Commercialisation of education is a dangerous trend. There is need to humanise education, not commercialise it, Siddalingaiah, chairman, Kannada Development Authority has said.

He was delivering the valedictory address at a two-day conference conducted by the Association of Aided Schools of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts here on Sunday Sep 17.

Students and teachers were increasingly losing touch with culture of the land. There was disorientation between the syllabi and what students saw around them on a day-to-day basis. At the same time, they were not aware of their own historical and cultural roots. It was in this context that one had to view the need to introduce Kannada as the medium of instruction in schools, he said.

Siddalingaiah said the knowledge of English was essential, and must be taught as a language. But Kannada must be the medium of instruction.

High priority would be accorded to the introduction of Kannada as the medium of instruction, as all educationists were of the opinion that this would benefit students.