Date:15/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/15/stories/2006121511010400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

English option for non-State students goes

Staff Reporter

Decision affects CBSE, ICSE students opting for State syllabus

It will be effective from the academic year 2007-08

Bangalore: The State Government on Thursday withdrew the option given to CBSE and ICSE students to study English as an alternative language to Kannada if they changed over to the State syllabus.

It will be mandatory for such students to study Kannada as the first or second language from the academic year 2007-08.

Briefing presspersons on decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting here on Thursday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj S. Horatti said students could opt for English on the grounds that they did not know Kannada by filing an affidavit before the Director of Public Instruction.

Hindi teachers

The Cabinet also decided that those who applied for the post of Hindi teacher in primary schools should have passed SSLC or the Pre-University Course with Kannada as the first or second language.