English or extinction: 36 government schools on the brink

A total of 36 government-run schools in the district may shut down this academic year unless the state approves the launch of English medium classes. Officials from the Department of School Education and Literacy acknowledged that requests for these conversions have been sent to the government well before the new school term begins.

Local legislators are pushing for change, with 33 additional proposals likely to follow soon. However, an existing regulation mandates a minimum of 25 students in Kannada medium before introducing English sections in Grades 1, 6, and 8 — a condition proving difficult to meet.

According to department sources, many of these schools struggle with low enrolment, primarily because they lack English instruction, which is increasingly sought after by parents. In some institutions, the student count is in single digits.

Deputy Director Manjunath highlighted that the affected schools include 10 in Thirthahalli, 8 in Bhadravathi, 9 in Sagar, 7 in Sorab, and 2 in Hosanagar. Without the option of English medium, many parents opt for private institutions nearby, especially when their children reach Grade 8.

Ganesh Y, Block Education Officer for Thirthahalli, emphasized that even more schools in his region require English sections to retain their students. In the sparsely populated Malnad area, with villages often home to fewer than 10 families, survival of schools depends on language-based flexibility.

The government is being urged to reconsider its norms, else the very existence of these rural schools remains at risk.

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