Large number of school students jumped into a mega protest unmindful of the scorching sun condemning the Tamil Nadu government for its dual language policy at Talavadi attached to the border district Chamarajanagar on Thursday.
There are 28 Kannada medium schools, nine primary schools, three high schools and two pre-university colleges at Talavadi region. Students of all the schools and their parents participated in the protest and raised slogans against Tamil Nadu for making Tamil compulsory as first language.
Rally
The protest rally was led by Kannada association and began from the Netaji Circle and proceeded up to the office of the educational officer. Later, they also submitted a memorandum.
Earlier, 100 marks was allotted for Kannada exams, which has been slashed to 50 marks. From the current academic year first language will be both Tamil and Kannada and exams will be held for both for 50 marks each.
‘Withdraw order’
Tamil teachers have been appointed for Kannada medium schools and the agitators demanded withdraw of the order immediately, as this system would have drastic impact on the academic career of the students whose aggregate marks would reduce.
The students studying in Urdu schools too face the same problem as pressure is exerted on the students to learn Tamil language.
This system would have an impact when the students search for jobs in future as they would be lagging behind when compared to other students of the state.
Hence, they demanded the order be withdrawn and also protect Kannada and Urdu languages.