Despite the Karnataka government’s green light to start bilingual classes in 115 additional government schools in Dakshina Kannada for the 2025–26 academic year, the initiative faces significant delays due to operational setbacks.
The state had approved 4,134 schools statewide to implement bilingual education, but in Dakshina Kannada, challenges such as lack of classroom space, non-availability of bilingual textbooks, and unclear implementation directives have stalled progress.
An official from Samagra Shikshana Karnataka in the district revealed that although the official order has been released, local departments are yet to receive detailed guidelines from the Department of School Education and Literacy. “We are already two months behind schedule. Textbooks for the year have been distributed, and it’s now too late to place new orders. We may need to wait until the next academic cycle, for which procurement starts in September,” the official noted.
To address immediate needs, block education officers (BEOs) have been instructed to reuse old bilingual textbooks for the time being.
James Cutinho, BEO of Mangaluru North, said that only 3 or 4 out of 15 sanctioned schools have managed to start bilingual classes, with the rest held back by textbook shortages. Another BEO expressed concern over lack of funding clarity, adding that while School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) are eager to proceed, logistical and financial uncertainties persist.
At present, 123 government schools in Dakshina Kannada already offer bilingual instruction.