Mandya: The growing preference for English-medium education is reshaping govt schooling in Mandya district, with more than 90% of students in bilingual schools opting for English as their medium of instruction.Mandya has 314 bilingual schools, where students can choose between English and Kannada as the medium of instruction. To support the system, 954 specially trained teachers have been deployed to teach in bilingual classrooms. The increasing demand for English-medium education has also contributed to higher enrolment in govt schools.Many parents who previously preferred private schools due to the availability of English-medium education are now choosing govt schools, as the bilingual system offers the same option at a significantly lower cost.Speaking to TOI, deputy director of public instruction (DDPI) Basavaraj said the demand for bilingual education was particularly high in Mandya, with parents showing a strong preference for English-medium instruction from the school level.“The demand for bilingual education is very high in Mandya, and parents are keen on enrolling their children in English-medium schools. The bilingual system has helped increase enrolment in govt schools,” he said.Basavaraj noted that many parents had earlier sent their children to private schools solely for access to English-medium education. However, with English-medium instruction now available in govt schools, several families have shifted to the public education system.He said that more than 90% of students enrolled in bilingual schools had opted for English medium, reflecting the changing aspirations of both parents and students.The system has also helped reduce the financial burden on families, as they no longer need to depend on private schools solely to secure English-medium education for their children. Officials believe that offering a choice of medium within govt schools will help retain students and further strengthen enrolment.Encouraged by the positive response, the state govt is considering expanding the bilingual education system across Karnataka from the next academic year. Officials are also examining the introduction of a mono-medium system in govt schools, allowing students to opt exclusively for either English or Kannada as their medium of instruction.
