Karnataka - Bangalore

Mathikatti stresses on English teaching

Bangalore: Legislative Council Chairman Veeranna Mathikatti on Sunday advised teachers and private school managements to take up the task of teaching English on priority to children at various levels.

Mr. Mathikatti was speaking after felicitating Puttanna of the Janata Dal (Secular), who was elected to the Legislative Council from the Teachers’ Constituency, at a function organised here by the Karnataka State Private School Managements Federation.

The Council Chairman said that English occupied the centre stage at the international level and the children should learn the language in view of the globalisation and liberalisation.

China and India were developing very fast.

While India was far ahead in developing software, China had made great strides in the hardware sector.

He said that China was extending incentives for learning English in the form of stipend to children, who chose the language at the primary level in 10,000 schools across the country.

At the degree level, he said, any student who studied English as an optional language was given stipend.

If India wanted its pre-eminent position in information technology and other related fields to continue, he said it should make all efforts, including imparting education in English.

But, he made it clear that learning English should not be at the cost of the mother tongue and Kannada, and the children should not be deprived of it.

Mr. Mathikatti, who came all the way from Dharwad for the function, had to wait for two hours for Mr. Puttanna to turn up for the programme.

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