Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Moves Forward with Tamil Medium Instruction Pilot
The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has officially commenced the process to identify specific Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) where Tamil may be introduced as a medium of instruction on an experimental pilot basis. This significant development follows a formal representation made by Coimbatore-based activist V. Eswaran on January 28, specifically requesting the implementation of Tamil as the instructional medium at KV Sowripalayam.
Official Response and Decision Framework
In a detailed response letter dated February 23, Dr. R. Senthilkumar, Deputy Commissioner of KVS, confirmed the organization's decision. The letter explicitly stated that a broader decision regarding implementing regional languages as mediums of instruction in other Kendriya Vidyalayas across the nation will be contingent upon the outcomes and thorough evaluation of this initial pilot program.
The communication from KVS elaborated on the legal and administrative framework governing these institutions. Kendriya Vidyalayas are designated as 'Special Category Schools' under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. This classification, as per Section 2(p) of the Act, acknowledges their distinct character, established primarily to serve the educational needs of children belonging to transferable Central Government and defence personnel, who may be relocated during the academic year.
Accordingly, these schools operate in alignment with Central Government policies and the specific admission guidelines issued by KVS, all within the overarching framework established by the RTE Act.
Activist Hails Decision as a Historic Victory
Reacting to the KVS response, activist V. Eswaran celebrated the move as a major victory and a profoundly positive signal. He highlighted that state leaders and advocates have been campaigning for this change for over five decades. "Education in the mother tongue is a fundamental right of every citizen," Eswaran asserted, referencing the legal provisions that support this principle.
He pointed to Section 29(2)(f) of the RTE Act, which mandates that the medium of instruction should, as far as is practicable, be in the child's mother tongue. Furthermore, he emphasized that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 strongly advocates for mother-tongue-based education from Classes 1 through 5.
"However, these crucial provisions have not been fully realized in practice until now," Eswaran noted, expressing hope that this pilot represents a concrete step toward implementation.
Calls for Nationwide Expansion and Inclusion
Looking beyond the immediate pilot, Eswaran proposed a broader vision. He urged that the pilot program should not be confined solely to Tamil Nadu but should be systematically expanded to other states on a regular, permanent basis. His recommendations include:
- Extending the pilot model to incorporate other major regional languages across India.
- Introducing respective regional languages as formal subjects for students who are enrolled in English-medium streams within Kendriya Vidyalayas.
- Ensuring that the evaluation of the Tamil pilot is rigorous and informs scalable, nationwide policy adjustments.
This initiative by KVS marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse about linguistic inclusivity and the implementation of mother-tongue education policies within India's central government school system, potentially setting a precedent for other regional languages in the future.
