Bengaluru: The State Governments intent to make Kannada mandatory in CBSE and ICSE Schools will become a reality from 2018-19 academic year. Speaking to press persons here yesterday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait said that students from other States who join here for higher grades, will have to take up a beginner’s course in the language.

Pointing out that Kannada will be introduced at Class-1 in all schools, irrespective of their affiliation, he said that Kannada will be introduced as an introductory language in Class-1 from 2018-19 and then it will be gradually introduced till Class-10 in subsequent years. By 2026-27, Kannada will be the second language in all CBSE and ICSE Schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas in the State, he added.

Stating that the petition filed by private schools had been dismissed by the Court, Sait maintained that the Government now has the backing of the Legislation to bring all schools under its ambit, irrespective of their affiliations. Sait further said that a proposal to merge the examination branches of SSLC and PUC is being considered by the Education Department.

Continuing, he said that the State Government is mulling on making it compulsory for elected representatives and Government employees to send their children to State-run schools. This is one of the 21 recommendations made by the Kannada Development Authority to strengthen Government Schools, he added.