Study Finds English Gaps in Karnataka's Bilingual Schools

A new assessment by the Kannada Development Authority has raised concerns over Karnataka's government school *bilingual education policy*, launched in 2018-19 to expand English-medium instruction alongside Kannada. The study, covering Classes 6 and 7, found that many students can read English text but fail to grasp its meaning, construct original sentences, or hold basic conversations. Some seventh-graders reportedly could not even narrate a short story in English.

Researchers, including Dr. G.S. Jayadeva and Dr. Krishnamurthy Hanur, attribute these gaps to a heavy reliance on memorization rather than active language practice. The report urges the state to strengthen mother-tongue learning in Kannada as a foundation for comprehension, while adopting child-centered, communication-based English teaching methods such as storytelling, role-play, and group activities.

The findings arrive as Karnataka prepares to extend bilingual instruction to Class 6 for 2026-27, having already rolled it out to over 9,500 schools. While the study does not suggest the program has failed outright, it highlights a crucial need to match the expansion of English-medium classes with genuine improvements in language proficiency and teaching quality.