Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada district unit of Communist Party of India (CPI) (Marxist) staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Monday, May 27 and urged the government not to go ahead with its decision of starting pre-primary classes and opening English sections in government schools.
The protesters said that if the government started pre-primary classes in government schools, the parents would not send their children to Anganwadi centres and the government’s intention behind the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) would fail.
Addressing the protesters, CPI(M) District Committee Member Vasudev Uchil said, “The system of providing education has been commercialised over the years. Hence, providing education in the English medium has become a fashion now. Meanwhile, the state government has decided to start English medium sections in government schools, which would destroy our culture.”
CPI(M) District Committee Secretary Vasanth Achary said, “We are not against teaching English as a subject in school. But, media of the education should not be English. Instead of starting pre-primary classes in government schools, the government should start such classes in the Anganwadi centres.”
Leaders Sunil Kumar Bajal, J Balakrishna Shetty, U B Lokaiah and Krishnappa Salian among others were present.
