Date:16/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/16/stories/2005121609150400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Improve Kannada-medium schools: writer

Special Correspondent

`Only then will Suvarna Karnataka celebrations become meaningful' Buildings are generally in a state of disrepair and lack basic amenities

BANGALORE: Kannada writer and critic Ki. Ram. Nagaraj has said that the Suvarna Karnataka celebrations will become meaningful only if the Government makes sincere efforts to improve its Kannada-medium schools, which are in deplorable shape.

He has also opposed what he considers wasteful expenditure incurred by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat amounting to crores of rupees on holding the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan every year.

Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore here on Wednesday, Prof. Nagaraj said a large number of government primary schools continue to have only one classroom as also a single teacher. The buildings are generally in a state of disrepair and lack basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets, library and playground. Unfortunately, many of the programmes drawn up to improve the standard of teaching in government schools have remained on paper, he said.

The Government should introspect on what has been achieved after the unification of the State. Only by strengthening Kannada-medium schools, particularly those located in the Hyderabad Karnataka region, can awareness be created about Kannada language. In some schools there are not even 25 Kannada textbooks. Uninspiring classrooms and absence of teachers are the major reasons for the high dropout rate in some districts, Prof. Nagaraj said.

The Kannada Sahitya Parishat and State Government have planned many programmes to mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of the State. Spending crores of rupees on celebrations will in no way help solve the problems of Kannadigas. The parishat should desist from spending huge amounts of money for the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan to be held in Bidar from January 27 to 29, he said.

Prof. Nagaraj wanted to know what prevents the State from achieving 100 per cent literacy when a small State such as Kerala has done it.

Teachers and parents are focussed on children securing high marks in science and mathematics and not in Kannada. In every primary class at least two hours should be devoted to reading Kannada stories, dramas and books to inculcate the reading habit among students, the writer suggested.

Asked about the demand for classical language status for Kannada, he said, "Kannada is a classic language and not a classical language." The Centre's decision to give classical language status to Tamil is a political one, he said.