by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Bangalore, Feb 20: After years of mulling over the issue of whether to teach English from the first standard itself in Kannada schools, the Law Department has finally recommended the introduction of English as an optional second language.

However, the suggestion maintained that English language can be taught without holding examination.

Law Department issued directions in this regard to the Department of Primary Education on Jan. 10 along with few suggestion"

• The English medium schools following State syllabus must teach Kannada compulsorily from I standard itself.
•  According to the recommendations of the Kannada Development Authority, Kannada should be taught compulsorily from the III standard onwards in primary schools where mother tongues like Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Marati or others languages are the mediums of instruction.

The Law department has made it clear that taking steps in this direction does not, in anyway, violate the Supreme Court's ruling in the Usha Mehta case.

The Department of Education had sought suggestions from the Law Department over the measures to teach English optionally from I standard without holding exams and making Kannada compulsory from III standard in schools teaching in other mother tongues.

The issue of teaching English from primary level had become contentious with for and against voices heard everywhere. The issue took a serious turn during June last year, but no firm decision was taken by the then Dharam Singh Government.

Even the then Minister for primary and higher education Ramalinga Reddy had the issue let go saying the Government is waiting for report from Law Department.