Date:19/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/19/stories/2005051909770400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

`Make Telugu medium of instruction in private schools'

Staff Reporter

Weightage to Telugu medium students in job opportunities sought

HYDERABAD: The Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Official Language Commission, A.B.K. Prasad, has said Telugu should be made the medium of instruction in private educational institutions compulsorily.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Mr. Prasad gave details of the recommendations of the maiden meeting of the commission held on May 16. He said though teaching in Telugu medium was compulsory till Class V in Government schools, it should be made compulsory in all educational institutions till SSC level.

Classical language

Other recommendations include weightage for Telugu medium candidates in employment opportunities, a resolution in the Assembly to make Telugu second language at the national level and declaring it as classical language.

He said another resolution should be passed in the Assembly demanding that Telugu be accorded second language status in Tamil Nadu. He said the Government should come out with an official announcement on the implementation of Telugu in Government offices.

The commission members felt that all Government orders, inter- office memos, drafts and circulars should be sent in Telugu only. He said February 21 should be celebrated as International Official Languages Day in tune with the UNESCO resolution.