Udupi: Teach English from Class 1 and save school

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 28 July 2012: Due to lack of students in Kannada medium, government schools are being closed, reason love for English.  However, if government relax the rules a bit and with the help of community, these government English schools can be saved.  This is being tried and in Thonse Grama of Udupi.

 
On the threshold of centenary, the pre-independence Government (Urdu) Higher Primary School is on the verge of closing.  From class 1 to 7 only 45 students are currently studying.  This year though 5 students enrolled to class 1 only 3 are actually attending and in the coming year it will not be a surprise if none attends it.

 

 
It will be a big burden to the education department and hence no other option but to close it.  However, the old students who studied here and are in good jobs now want this school to remain open and have extended their support and have appealed the government not to close it.

 
They have put up a plan and as per plan, let the school be open, let government appoint a teacher to teach English from 1st standard itself but let the school run on kannada medium and let additional Urdu language to continue along with English and they have promised that the salary of the teacher will be paid by them.  Not only that the old students have promised financial support for maintenance of the old building, building a new building and basic necessities and to provide furniture, building materials etc.  One of the old student Fathaullah Saheb and other students have untidily opined and promised their support.

 
Padu Thonse, having Muslim majority, it is decided to teach English from 1st standard itself which will definitely attract other students who want to send their children to English medium schools and the parents will enroll their students to this school if English is taught from the beginning.  The old students hope that, though previously, the school was attended by more than 400 students but situation deteriorated due to English medium schools and if the current plans are accepted by Government it will help to attract at-least 100 – 200 students.

 
However, this plans to be accepted and implemented by the Government and hence, the old students are in constant touch with education department, officers and even communicating with state education ministry on this issue with lot of love and affection to their old school and hoping for the best.

 
If at all this idea of old students of this Thonse School in teaching English from class 1 istelf, is accepted, it will not only help in restoring this school but can be saved many schools of the state who are about to close due to lack of English medium in the schools.  We pray and wish for this golden day, hoped the old students.