For the first time, English introduced from Class I in Gujarat’s government schools

Lately, debates on the state of the education sector in the State and particularly the condition of State-run schools has been at the centre of the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party’s political slugfest in Gujarat

In more than 32,000 government-run primary schools in Gujarat, English subject has been introduced from Class I for the first time in a move to make the students conversant with the language and to meet the demands of parents who want their kids to learn English language from the beginning stages.

“From this academic year, we have made the beginning of teaching English as a subject from Standard 1 in all government-run schools,” said Gujarat’s Education Secretary Vinod Rao.

He added that in the start, the students of Class I-II will be taught basics of the language and from Class III onwards, they will be taught writing also.

From Standard VI, students will be introduced to bilingual textbooks.

“It is a good move that at least some basic skills of English language will be taught to the students from the very first day of their schooling,” said Ramesh Thakor, a parent from Ganeshpura village of Mehsana district.

His son studies in class III in their village school.  

The State education department is providing training to teachers as well as providing teacher’s handbooks in government primary schools on how to tackle the new subject.