Introducing English medium in all Govt schools a timely decision: Experts

The decision will take the State-run public education system to the next level and benefit students in rural areas and agency villages.

Khammam: Experts and educationists in erstwhile Khammam district have hailed the State government’s move to introduce English medium in all government schools in the State from the academic year 2022-23 as a timely decision.

The decision will take the State-run public education system to the next level and benefit students in rural areas and agency villages. English medium instruction is the need of the hour to help the students face competition at global level, noted educationist Gundala Krishna told Telangana Today.

“Teachers have to be trained and motivated to change with changing times. Studying in English medium will help the students survive in this technology driven world and excel in software industry. But equal importance has to be given to Telugu as the mother tongue,” he said.

School Teachers Federation (STF) state general secretary Devarakonda Saidulu, while stressing on the need to impart practical training to teachers, said: “Language Libraries and Language Labs have to be established to make English medium instruction inclusive and effective.”

He said the STF welcomes the State government’s decision to introduce English medium in all government schools from the next academic year as it benefits students from poorer sections and stressed on the need for infrastructure development.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Saidulu suggested that the textbooks be modified to start English medium at primary level since students in rural areas may not attend kindergarten. Sounding a note of caution, he said if teachers are not trained well, it may lead to failure of the initiative.

A writer, blogger and a government teacher, KVVS Murthy said the government’s decision will be a boon for students from poverty stricken, middle class and lower middle class sections.

Giving a few practical tips for the success of the initiative, he opined that teachers should not confine themselves to textbooks, but read English newspapers and magazines to hone their language skills.

“Conversing with students in English will help them overcome shyness. Only those capable of teaching in English effectively should be engaged and every year there has to be a refresher course for the teachers,” Murthy said.

The headmistress of ZPSS (English medium) in Kothagudem, G S H Rani felt that both teachers and students have to be passionate about English learning. “Only then will the government’s efforts be successful,” she said.

The government has to appoint full scale staff in all schools for the initiative to be effective, she said, adding that Telugu cannot be avoided fully and translation method has to be adopted to make teaching effective.

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