Despite unrest, J&K and the Northeastern states have the largest number of English-medium students
With around 49 per cent students studying in Hindi-medium schools, the language still continues to be the prime medium of instruction in schools across India. There are only 17 per cent students studying in English-medium schools.
The combined percentage for other languages is around 33 per cent. Schools in India have a three-language formula – including English, Hindi and the regional language. All states except Tamil Nadu follow this formula. Bihar is the worst in terms of students going to English-medium schools, as only about three per cent students go to schools that have English as a medium of instruction. Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeastern states have the largest number of English-medium students.
The numbers revealed by the Human Resource Development Ministry (HRD) in an answer to a Lok Sabha question has come as no surprise, after a recent report on English proficiency survey in the world ranked India at the 22nd spot, two spots lower than what it was last year.
Despite this situation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas has been asking the government to make Hindi the primary medium of instruction across all schools in India instead of English or state language. This is the suggestion made for the New Education Policy.
In a written suggestion submitted to the HRD Ministry last month, the organisation has asked for all foreign languages to be removed from the curriculum, and to make Hindi the prime language for instruction. This was a suggestion for the New Education Policy, which the government is yet to implement.
“The medium of instruction is a matter which falls within the domain of state governments and UTs. The Government of India financially supports state governments for opening of primary, upper primary and secondary schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. It is up to the states and UTs to decide the medium of instruction,” the HRD Ministry added.
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