AP High Court quashes government orders to convert all schools to English medium
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday quashed two government orders that aim to introduce English as a medium of instruction, in a huge setback to the YSR Congress government’s plans for state-run schools in the state.
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice J.K. Maheswari and Ninala Jayasurya, has delivered the verdict while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an Eluru-based petitioner, Dr Srinivas Guntupalli, thro-ugh his counsel Kar-umanchi Indraneel Babu.
In its order, the HC observed that the GO issued by the state government is in contravention of the provisions of section 29(2) of the Right to Educ-ation Act; section 7 (3) and (4) of the 1982 Act; Rules 8 and 23 of the Central Rules as well Rule 25 of the State Rules.
The court further observed that the GO would not survive in view of the law laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of the State of Madhya Pradesh and Anr. v. G.S. Dall and Flour Mills.
The court order sets aside GO Ms Nos. 81 and 85 issued by the state government.
The GO Ms No. 85 issued by the school education department on November 20 last year was based on a proposal by the commissioner of school education to introduce English as a medium of instruction for class 1 to 6 in all schools run by the state government from the academic year that begins in June 2020.
The GO also promised to take steps for introducing Telugu or Urdu as a compulsory subject, depending on the current medium of instruction of children.
Opposition parties, including the Telugu Desam, Jana Sena, BJP, Congress and others, however criticised the state government’s decision, stating that the state could not afford to ignore the mother tongue by introducing English as the medium of instruction.
They also found fault with the government’s move citing the unpreparedness of faculty to teach students in English.
The state government, however, defended its decision claiming that as a large number of students hailing from economically-poor background pursue education in government schools, and English would help them in a big way in their careers.
