English Teachers at Schools: HC Seeks Govt's Views

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has sought the views of the state government on a petition seeking appointment of English teachers at high schools. It is alleged by the petitioner that English teachers are not appointed, thus affecting quality of education.

A petition filed by PM Ali of Palappilly in Thrissur and Reji Thomas of Kallooppara in Thiruvalla through advocate Sajith Kumar is being considered by the court.

It is alleged by the petitioners that the government showing willful inaction in implementing the amendment to Kerala Education Rules (KER), which specifies that English should be taught as a language in government schools and aided schools. This results in denying quality education in English language through qualified teachers to students who are mostly from lower and middle class, the petition said.

By amending KER, English was made a compulsory language in all schools under the rules. Post of language teachers have to be sanctioned in schools having period of 15 and above per week as per KER, contends the petitioners.

"In spite of statutory requirements to treat English as a language and to sanction a post in schools with at least 3 divisions at the High School Section, the Respondent (government) authorities are blatantly violating the statutory rules thus denying the student from the lower economic strata, the English education as visualized in the Rules," stated the petition.

While the slogan and policy of the government was 'Education for All', it has now changed to 'Quality Education Pupil's Right'. Right to quality education is recognized as a fundamental right of all students in India. Therefore, it is the right of the students in the schools to have quality education in English language with the assistance of a properly qualified English teacher as prescribed in KER, the petitioners have contended.