Telugu A Must In CBSE, ICSE Schools Across Telangana From Next Academic Year

Hyderabad: In conformity with the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's decision to make Telugu a must up to 12th Class in all schools across Telangana, both CBSE and ICSE schools in the state will have to teach Telugu as mandatory language subject from the next academic year, an official said on Tuesday.

The Telangana government has received approval from the two boards for implementation of the state language from Class 1 to XII from academic year 2018-19. The sub-committee constituted by the government to look into the draft policy for implementation of Telugu as a mandatory subject submitted its report to the deputy chief minister and education minister Kadiyam Srihari on Tuesday.

Members of the sub-committee informed the minister that CBSE and ICSE have given their consent and there has been no objection over its implementation. “The CBSE and ICSE have necessary rules and provisions for mandatory implementation of a language in respective states,” said a media release issued by the minister’s office. It is, however, not clear whether it would be offered as a second or third language.

In government schools, Telugu is mandatory. In a review meeting, Srihari urged officials to take required steps for proper implementation of Telugu as a mandatory language. “Telugu must be introduced as a scoring subject. The curriculum must be prepared in such a manner that it is easy for students to learn the language,” the Dy CM said.

The sub-committee informed the minister that there were 1,390 schools in the state which do not have Telugu as the first language. Subsequently, the minister converted the subcommittee into ‘Telugu Language Advisory Committee’. The government sought a comprehensive report from the advisory committee covering areas such as the enactment of necessary laws, preparation of text-books and teaching methodologies.