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<a id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_HyperLinkMain" class="" style="text-decoration:none">Experts for use of regional languages in schools</a>
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<div class=""> SENIOR
educationalists at an event on Tuesday strongly criticised the rulers
for downgrading national and regional languages and instead creating
English language complex among the masses.</div><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblNewsDetailMain"><p> </p><p>There was also
consensus among them over the use of English as a Medium of Instruction
(MOI) at higher education level unlike Punjab government’s present
policy of English as medium of instruction in all the schools.</p><p> </p><p>The
event was organised by the Society for the Advancement of Education
(SAHE)/Campaign for Quality Education (CQE) in order to share its study
“Policy and Practice: Teaching and Learning in English in Punjab
Schools”, at a local hotel. </p><p> </p><p>Lahore College for Women
University (LCWU) Vice Chancellor Dr Sabiha Mansoor and Dr Tariq Rahman
spoke on the occasion. SAHE Chairman Abbas Rashid and Salaeya Butt from
SAHE shared details and findings of the study.</p><p> </p><p>Dr Sabiha
Mansoor termed the policy of English as medium of instruction in schools
as surrendering to British once again. “We are no longer a British
colony”, she said while adding we should take pride in our languages.
She particularly took to task Punjab government with regard to
introduction of English as medium of instruction in its schools since
2009. “What is wrong with our national language? Why we are running
after English when we need this language for functional purposes only”,
she questioned while stressing that mother tongue was always helpful in
learning process for schoolchildren. </p><p> </p><p>Dr Tariq Rahman said
that state deliberately created discriminatory policies saying elite
class did not send children to public schools. “Elite schools should be
abolished”, he said while suggesting “English should be reserved for
higher education only.” The dejected educationalist, however, added
“This is not going to happen as elite is too powerful. The English
medium lobby can’t be defeated”, he added. About English as medium of
instruction in public schools Dr Tariq Rahman observed the said policy
simply failed to start as in practice the policy was different. “I wish
there was one policy for all”, he added.</p><p> </p><p>Talking about the
SAHE study Abbas Rashid said the study suggested that there was need to
review the policy of using English as a medium of instruction in
Science and Mathematics in the schools at earlier stages of teaching. </p><p> </p><p>Abbas
further said the study recommended that based on existing research and
global experience English needed to be taught at the primary level as a
subject from grade 1 or depending on the availability of competent
teachers and not as the MOI. According to the SAHE study perceptions
among parents and teachers with regard to the policy, as expected, a
very high percentage of parents i.e. 70 percent approved, equating the
greater emphasis on English with increased prospects for their children
to learn English, a skill they understandably value highly. During the
question-answer session, one of the participants Rana Atta of the Punjab
Association of Subject Specialist (PASS) said the government should not
have turned all the schools into English medium. He said the same was
also the leading cause of dropout among students at schools. He
suggested that the government should give an option to students and
should introduce separate sections within a school for Urdu medium and
English medium students. </p><p> </p><p>It is pertinent to mention here
that British Council in collaboration with School Education Department
has launched Punjab Education and English Language Initiative (PEELI) to
train government schoolteachers and those teaching at schools partnered
with the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) in skills in English
language teaching. </p><p> </p><p>PEELI Director Alan S Mackenzie also attended the event as a participant. <br></p><p><a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-5-211039-Experts-for-use-of-regional-languages-in-schools">http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-5-211039-Experts-for-use-of-regional-languages-in-schools</a><br>
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