Students of several government schools in northeast and east Delhi are reportedly facing the discontinuation of English-medium teaching in Class XI. They are left with the choice of switching to Hindi-medium classes or transferring to other schools, as English-medium sections are either being discontinued or merged with Hindi-medium ones.
Impact on Students and Parents
Parents, teachers, and students have expressed concerns that this move is adversely affecting academic performance, confidence, and communication skills. Some students are now seeking transfers to other institutions to continue their education in English.
According to parents and members of school management committees, separate English and Hindi-medium sections are typically maintained until Class X in most Delhi government schools. “Till Class X, sections are segregated. For instance, section A will be English-medium, section B Hindi-medium, and so on. This is mostly the system in all govt schools,” said a parent associated with a school management committee.
Merging of Sections in Higher Classes
In Classes XI and XII, students are divided according to subject combinations. “What happens is that in Class XI, students choose different subjects such as science with maths, science without maths, and so on. If only 20 students opt for one stream in English-medium while another 30 choose the same stream with Hindi, heads of schools merge the sections and appoint one teacher for all. Those who want to continue in English-medium are then left with few options. For many of them, the only option is to leave,” the parent added.
Student Struggles
Students have stated that this issue is not new, and they have faced difficulties in securing English-medium education earlier as well. “In Class IX, I was initially allotted a Hindi-medium section. I kept objecting because the school was not providing an English-medium option. After a prolonged struggle, I eventually had to take legal action, following which I was shifted to an English-medium section,” said a student of a Delhi government school.
The student further added, “Now, after Class X, the school says there are no English-medium sections for Classes XI and XII. The reality is that they simply do not continue English-medium sections anymore. Whenever I ask teachers why they are being discontinued, I am told that if I want to study in English-medium, I can seek admission in another school.”
Teacher Perspectives
Teachers from some east Delhi schools confirmed that separate English-medium sections are reportedly not being continued in certain institutions. “In some schools, especially in Class XI, separate English-medium sections are reportedly not being continued and students are being merged with Hindi-medium sections. Most heads of schools do this so that they don’t need extra teachers and can finish the class in one classroom. Due to this, many students who have studied in English-medium till Class X are facing great difficulty,” said a teacher of an east Delhi school.
She claimed that the issue is affecting students in several schools across northeast Delhi. “This issue is being faced by students of CR Dass SKV, Seelampur, and nearby schools in northeast districts of Delhi. Students are being compelled to seek transfers.... Parents and students are deeply worried,” she said.
Legal and Activist Intervention
Education activist and lawyer Ashok Agarwal has written to the directorate of education, requesting an inquiry into the discontinuation and merging of English-medium sections in Class XI. The letter states, “Due to this, many students who have studied in English medium till Class X are facing great difficulty in continuing their education.”
“I request the department to investigate why separate English-medium sections are not being continued in these schools and to take necessary action so that students can continue their education in their chosen medium without disturbance. The education and future of students should be protected with proper planning and equal opportunities. I hope the department will take immediate and positive action on this important issue,” he wrote.
Lack of Response from Authorities
The Directorate of Education did not respond to queries sent regarding the matter.
Long-term Consequences
Agarwal warned that the issue could have long-term academic and psychological consequences. “Mixing English-medium students with Hindi-medium sections affects the students’ confidence, academic performance, communication skills, and overall development. Silly excuses are given to parents by teachers and heads of schools,” he said.
This situation highlights the challenges faced by students in accessing quality education in their preferred medium, raising concerns about equity and planning in government school systems.
