Karnataka: Stress on neighbourhood education system

[Harold F. Schiffman]

>>From Newindpress.com

Stress on neighbourhood education system
Thursday February 2 2006 10:26 IST

DHARWAD: According classical language status to any language is not the
job of the government, it should be determined by linguists and scholars,
opined Dr U R Ananthmurthy, Gnanapeeth awardee. Addressing a news
conference here on Wednesday, Ananthmurthy said though the status of
classical language received a whopping amount of money to undertake novel
programmes in the name of language, merely the status could not bring
significant changes into the lives of people who speak the classical
language.

Ananthmurthy said the only way to resist bad implications of globalisation
was the de-centralisation of culture. Lately, globalisation was not only
dominating indigenous culture, but was also displacing the latter. The
prevailing scenario would certainly bring in hopeless consequences for the
nation in the days to come, he added. While replying a question on recent
political developments in the state, he said the hope of a ‘secular’ third
front assuming power in the nation, was lost by the decision of JD (S)
joining hands with BJP to share power in the state.

To keep Kannada abreast of the changing requirements of globalisation, he
underscored the need for implementing ‘Neighbourhood education system’ and
opening ‘common schools’, at least one for each district in the state.
Common schools were the best way to tackle the influence of globalisation
on Kannada where children from all strata of society, together learnt
subjects taught in Kannada medium, apart from English as a language, he
added. While talking about measures needed to be undertaken for
development of Kannada, he said first, the government should create an
atmosphere that ensures job opportunities for students who study in
Kannada medium.

The state should give enough thrust on translation activities and the
Translation Academy must be provided with adequate financial support since
it translated works that encouraged readers of other languages to learn
Kannada, he added. He said ensuring a job either in information technology
or bio-technology sector should not be the ultimate goal for education,
which ought to focus on developing interest in the basic sciences among
the young, as it would result in overall prosperity of the nation.