State directed to consider spoken English in schools

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam while admitting a public interest litigation moved in this regard directed the state to file a counter affidavit by December 6. Based on the facts and circumstances of the case, the bench also suo motu impleaded the director, state council for education, research and training, Chennai.

M Appavu, former DMK MLA of Radhapuram had submitted that though English is taught as a second language as per the education policy in the state from Class 2 to Class 12 in Tamil medium governments, aided and un-aided school, a student even after successfully completing Class 12 with very good marks, were unable to speak or understand if communicated in English, besides finding it difficult to write in Englishfluently.

Stating that this difficulty causes practical problems for the students when they pursue competitive exams, professional courses and other degree courses, in various institutions as they have to learn in English and the classes were conducted only in English, in professional and degree courses, the petitioner said, adding, the students who pursue school education in English medium under CBSE schools are finding it very easy to understand, communicate and mingle with other students as well as with faculty.

Therefore, a need has arisen to give emphasis to the spoken English in all the Tamil medium government, aided and un-aided schools from primary to higher secondary level by introducing spoken English as a compulsory subject from Class 2 to Class 12, he added.