Mysuru: Observing that education be nationalised in accordance with the country’s multi-cultural character, Kannada Development Authority (KDA) Chairman Prof. S.G. Siddaramaiah has deplored the efforts to promote English, Hindi and Sanskrit in the country at the cost of regional languages.

He was speaking at the session on ‘Present Day Challenges in Education’ at the 83rd Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana at Maharaja’s College grounds here on Friday.

Alleging that the Centre is thrusting English, Hindi and Sanskrit through Kendriya Vidyalayas, he reiterated that nationalisation of education based on federal structure and promotion of regional languages.

Expressing concern over the reported neglect of RTE children in some schools, he said that such a tendency to discriminate children will have a lasting impact on the young minds.

Calling for equal educational opportunities for everyone irrespective  of their financial status, he urged the government to repair schools which are in bad shape and also to maintain them regularly.

Alleging that some private educational institutions have turned education into business, he regretted that a few Mutts too have started to follow this trend.

Urging the Government to allot more funds for primary education, he stressed on the need for teachers and education officers to introspect on why parents are opting for private schools.

Former Education Department official T.M. Kumar who spoke on the topic ‘Kannada Losing its Significance in Primary Education’ said that primary education had not been a priority in the country since decades.

Noting that RTE has been of little help in promoting primary education, Kumar said that he supported veteran littérateur Devanur Mahadeva’s call for nationalisation of school education.

Dr. Vishnukanth Chatapalli who spoke on the topic ‘Kannada Medium and Employment Opportunities,’ emphasised on teaching computers at primary education level.

Underlining the need for imparting skills to children apart from enhancing their learning ability, he called for preparing the children at an early stage itself for meeting future challenges.

He further said that education should also focus on social issues and challenges.