AIDSO alleges ‘bias’ against Kannada students in bilingual assessment

The Mysuru district committee of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has criticised the State government’s evaluation system for bridge course examinations in bilingual-medium schools, alleging that it “discriminates against students who choose to write their answers in Kannada”.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, AIDSO district secretary Nithin claimed that under the assessment framework introduced this academic year, students in bilingual-medium government schools are awarded an ‘A Grade’ only if they answer in English, while those writing in Kannada are reportedly limited to a ‘B Grade’ irrespective of the quality of their responses.

The organisation questioned the manner in which the bilingual-medium system was introduced, alleging that the policy was implemented without adequate consultation with students, teachers, parents and education experts.

The AIDSO maintained that mother-tongue education forms a crucial foundation for learning and argued that the government has ignored the views consistently expressed by language experts and educationists in favour of strengthening education in the native language. It said students should be encouraged to learn and express themselves in their mother tongue.

Demanding immediate corrective measures, the organisation urged the government to withdraw what it termed an “anti-education, unscientific and undemocratic” evaluation system and ensure that students have the freedom to choose Kannada as a medium of learning.