Concerned by the dwindling number of students in non-English medium schools, the state has given them permission to start semi-English classes.
Concerned by the dwindling number of students in non-English medium schools, the state has given them permission to start semi-English classes. This means that all language schools in the state can now teach mathematics and science in English from Std I to IV from the next academic year.
According to a government resolution dated August 6, schools, including the Marathi-medium ones, can now opt for semi-English classes if they wish to attract more students as well as check the dropout rate.
The classes can start in Std I from the academic year 2010-11, in Std II from 2011-2012 and henceforth.
“The government had informed the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in the month of April about the implementation of the scheme. Any school that wishes to avail of this option need to seek permission from and inform the SCERT about the number of students who have opted for the semi-English schooling,” an official said.
Anil Bhidge, director of SCERT, said, “These days most parents are attracted to English medium schools and there are few takers for vernacular ones. By this step, parents will be attracted to vernacular schools as their children will be able to learn English.”
The India Education Society (King George-Dadar), which runs 19 Marathi medium schools in the city, successfully implemented the scheme two years ago for one division in their secondary schools from Std V to X. According to AB Vaidya, the president of the IES Trust, the introduction of the new system has almost doubled their class strength. “We had noticed that our students were lost because of the sudden change in the medium of instruction in junior college. We, therefore, started taking mathematics and science lectures in English. And I am glad to say that it has been very successful,” said Vaidya.
Amol Dhamdhere, IES’s secretary, said, “The government’s scheme will be very helpful for vernacular schools as they are unable to get teachers in the aided section of Std I to IV. All the primary schools are aided and are run by the BMC. The school managements are unable to get teachers to teach in English. We will have to figure out how it can be implemented in the primary schools.”
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