Karnataka to introduce bilingual education in all government schools by June 2027
The state government aims to increase enrolment and compete with private schools by offering both Kannada and English instruction.
The Karnataka government has decided to offer bilingual education in all state-run schools by June 2027, according to a report by Deccan Herald.
School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said the government intended to extend the programme to all schools this year but delayed it until next year due to a lack of trained and qualified teachers.
The bilingual education, which will be offered from grade 1, aims to increase enrolment and compete with private schools. Currently, 9,522 of the 46,757 government schools in the state are bilingual.
The department has started recruiting over 10,000 teachers to be trained for both Kannada and English classes. Bangarappa stated that local authorities have been instructed to prepare necessary infrastructure, noting that most schools already have additional classrooms.
Bangarappa noted that the introduction of LKG and UKG classes, which are all bilingual, has led to high admissions in some areas. He said that in the Kalyana Karnataka region, 48,000 students enrolled within 42 days after LKG and UKG classes were launched in 1,008 schools last year.
While the State Education Policy Commission recommended the move, some academicians have raised objections, arguing it could destroy Kannada medium schools. Bangarappa responded that parents have the right to choose the medium of instruction.