Mahbubnagar: Govt move to pave way for level playing field

Mahbubnagar: Teachers, students and parents across Palamuru region have welcomed the state government's decision to introduce the English medium in all the government schools.

Interacting with The Hans India, the parents, teachers and students across various districts welcomed the move of the state government. However, they felt that this decision of introducing English medium education should have been done much earlier so that by this time the entire school education system could have been reorganised and various issues and challenges could have been resolved.

"Though it is a tough decision by the State government to introduce the English medium education in all the government schools, however, we all welcome the courage and commitment of the government to revamp the school education system to the next level. The New Education Policy of the State government will help the poor and weaker sections of the society to get better access to English medium education on par with the education provided in private and corporate schools in the state," said Balaingaiah, a government school teacher from Zillah Parishad High School in Marikal mandal of Narayanpet district.

However, the teacher felt that there are many challenges in the government's way to overcome. Many teachers who are teaching in Telugu medium will have to retrain to adapt to the English medium education system and at the same time indicated the need to fill up thousands of vacant teaching posts in the government schools.

Not just filling up the school teacher's posts but all existing teaching faculty must be given orientation to teach the curriculum in English medium. "The entire school education system needs to have a complete revamp, not just with regard to curriculum, but also each and every school must be developed fully in all respects and must be provided all necessary infrastructure facilities like adequate class rooms, benches, toilets, compound walls, play ground etc. Focus must be given to ensure that recruitment of teaching faculty must be done as per teacher to student ratio and this will help improve quality of education," said Balalingaiah. Giving an instance of the status of present government school at Marikal, the senior teacher said that only 17 teaching staff are managing 750 students in the government school as against the actual requirement of more than 25-30 teachers in the schools.

Not just Marikal School, but majority of government schools particularly at the primary level is facing the same problem.

Coming to the opinion of parents, Ramulu, a stone crusher worker from Jadcherla mandal in Mahabubnagar district who has 4 children 3 daughters and one son is sending his 3 girls to government school and one son to a private English medium school. "The government's move to introduce English medium in government schools is a good decision, now my daughter can also get English medium education free of cost. I will now admit my son also in the government school and I will be relived of the high fees being paid in private school," said Ramulu.

Many school students also welcomed the government's move and said that they can now compete with the English medium students in all respects. "Earlier we used to see the English medium students as children from rich families as they can afford to pay high fees. But thanks to the government, now we from economically poor families can also get English medium education on par with the private and corporate schools," said Chandrasekhar, an 8th standard student from Wanaparthy district.