ERODE: Several residents of Thalavadi block have expressed their opposition to the Government Order (GO) 88/19.6.2006, making Tamil the first language in all schools.
In a petition to the DRO, R Sathish, the residents said that as the HMs have started enforcing the GO from this year, wards of linguistic minorities, who were studying their mother tongue as I language, were facing a lot of hardships.
Shabir Ahmad and Mahesan say, “if the GO is enforced from Class I, many could learn Tamil. But, all these years, Kannada was the first language for many students in Thalavadi block and they learnt other subjects in Kannada only. But now the schools insist that they learn Tamil as first language to take the Class X exam.” The most-affected would be those appearing for the Class X exam this year, they added.
There are over 3000 students studying through Kannada medium in the region. Above all, as per the SC order, students must be allowed to learn through their mother tongue only and no language should be thrust upon them, residents said and appealed to the CM withdraw the present GO. They urged the Chief Minister to make Tamil as first language for students joining class VI from this year.