HC suspends Jagan's plan to enforce English medium in govt schools

Vijayawada, April 15: In a major embarrassment to the State government, the AP High Court on Wednesday suspended the GOs issued by the State to enforce English medium education in government and private schools. The HC found fault with the government for taking away the choice of opting mother tongue as medium of learning for students.

The High Court questioned the legality of the government’s move to enforce English medium in schools while hearing public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the compulsory implementation of English mediums in schools from the next academic session.

The PILs were filed by BJP leader Rambhotla Srinivasa Sudhish from Gannavaram in Krishna district and Dr Srinivas Gunturpalli from Eluru in West Godavari district. The PILs had challenged GO 85 issued by the school education department on November 20, 2019 making implementation of English medium compulsory in all government and private schools from primary level.

The HC had reserved its judgment after hearing the PILs. It delivered its judgment on Wednesday accepting their contention, and said the right to choose medium of learning should be left to the students.

The petitioners argued that the AP government’s decision is in violation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009. They also argued that the right to choose the medium of instruction should be with the children only.

Arguing on behalf of the state government, advocate general S. Sriram said compulsory English medium will play a key role for the bright future of the students. However, the AP High Court scrapped the government’s decision to enforce English medium education in schools.