Karnataka plans English-medium sections in all govt schools while retaining Kannada classes

The Karnataka government plans to introduce English-medium sections in all government schools across the state while continuing existing Kannada-medium classes. The initiative aims to expand educational choices for students and parents, particularly in rural areas where access to English-medium education remains limited.

School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa announced that the initiative will eventually extend to all 48,527 government schools in Karnataka.

Students will have the option to pursue their education in either Kannada or English, without discontinuing the existing Kannada-medium system.

Why is Karnataka expanding English-medium education?

The decision comes against the backdrop of changing parental preferences, with many families increasingly opting for private schools because of the importance they attach to English-language proficiency.

Parents often consider English skills essential for competitive examinations, higher education opportunities and future employment. This preference has contributed to declining student enrollment in several government schools across the state.

Karnataka introduced its bilingual education program during the 2019-20 academic year, initially covering 6,539 government schools. Students admitted under the first phase of the initiative have now progressed to Class 7.

The program has gradually expanded over the subsequent academic years, with more government schools receiving approval to introduce English-medium sections.

The expansion includes:

• Around 2,000 government schools introduced English-medium sections during the 2024-25 academic year.
• Another 4,134 schools joined the initiative in 2025-26, further extending the reach of bilingual education.
• In Bengaluru North and Bengaluru South, 1,103 of the 1,465 government schools have already received approval to offer English-medium primary classes.

The government expects the availability of English-medium education within the public school system to encourage more parents to enroll their children in government institutions.

It could also reduce the financial pressure on families who otherwise turn to private schools to access English-medium instruction.

Teacher training to support transition to English-medium classes

Preparing teachers to deliver lessons effectively in English will be a major factor in implementing the bilingual education initiative. The transition will require educators to develop the language proficiency and teaching skills needed to handle classroom instruction in both languages.

To facilitate this process, the Karnataka Education Department is collaborating with organizations such as the British Council to conduct teacher-training programs.

These initiatives aim to strengthen teachers' English communication abilities and equip them with the skills required to explain different subjects effectively in bilingual classrooms.

However, education experts have emphasized that occasional or short-duration training programs may not adequately prepare teachers for the transition. They have recommended continuous and long-term professional development, particularly for educators working in rural government schools.

Regular training will be important to ensure that teachers can communicate subject concepts clearly in English while supporting students who are more comfortable learning in Kannada.

Kannada-medium education to continue alongside English

The state government has maintained that the expansion of English-medium sections will not come at the expense of Kannada-language education. Kannada will continue to retain an important position in the state's school education system.

Students will have opportunities to learn through their mother tongue while gradually developing their English reading, writing and speaking abilities.

The bilingual approach is intended to help children strengthen their understanding of subjects without facing difficulties associated with an abrupt shift to an unfamiliar language.

The government aims to maintain a balance between mother-tongue instruction and English-language proficiency, allowing students to develop skills in both languages during their school years.

How will the bilingual education model benefit students?

The expansion of English-medium sections across government schools is expected to improve access to education and provide families with alternatives to private institutions.

The proposed bilingual model is expected to offer several benefits:

• Free access to English-medium education: Students from rural and economically weaker families will be able to pursue English-medium education in government schools without paying private school fees.
• Reduced financial burden on parents: Families may have less need to enroll children in expensive private schools solely to secure English-medium instruction.
• Better understanding of subjects: Teachers can explain concepts in students' familiar home language while gradually introducing English terminology, helping children understand lessons more effectively.
• Improved learning outcomes: Research suggests that bilingual education can strengthen comprehension, address learning difficulties and support better academic progress.
• Lower school dropout rates: Learning through a familiar language while developing English proficiency can help students overcome language-related barriers that may affect their participation in education.

Through the expansion, the Karnataka government aims to make English-language education more accessible without weakening the role of Kannada in classrooms.

The initiative is also expected to strengthen the public education system by giving students from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds greater opportunities to develop language skills needed for higher education and future employment.