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`Banished` English back in Bengal Class I books: The Indian Express
Kolkata, Jun 03: While the name of Job Charnock was delinked as the founder of Kolkata recently, English is set to be introduced from Class I in the state.
Kolkata, Jun 03: While the name of Job Charnock was delinked as the founder of Kolkata recently, English is set to be introduced from Class I in the state.
English was removed from the Class I syllabus in Bengal in 1980, the year the CPI(M)-led Left Front completed its third year in office. But after 23 years it is once again weighing the pros and cons to bring it back right from Class I.
According to state CPI(M) insiders, the pressure came from within the party. Besides, popular discontent also contributed to the CPI(M) considering a policy reversal. CPI(M) state secretary Anil Biswas, however, wouldn’t accept that there’s going to be any immediate policy change. ‘‘It has not yet been discussed in the party but a review is due and a final decision would follow,’’he said.
When told that media had quoted him as having said that the discussion within the party had already taken place, Biswas replied: ‘‘That’s their interpretation.’’
Incidentally, the CPI(M)-led Front began giving in to popular demand of bringing back English after it was removed from syllabus in 1980. In 1991-92, the Jyoti Basu Government had accepted the Ashok Mitra Commission report which recommended English from Class VI. But its members were divided with a note of dissent from educationists, like Sunanda Sanyal and others, who recommended English from Class I.
With rising parental discontent, the SUCI had begun a movement and organised three successful state-wide bandhs on the debate. The party also organised English examinations in private to which thousands of parents responded.
On the CPI(M) move, writer and academician R.K. Dasgupta said: ‘‘English educated middle-class was a threat to Marxists. By having abolished the subject at primary level, the party has nipped the threat for more than two generations. They are now planning to go back because there’s no opposition in the state and they have nothing to fear.’’
When told that media had quoted him as having said that the discussion within the party had already taken place, Biswas replied: ‘‘That’s their interpretation.’’
Incidentally, the CPI(M)-led Front began giving in to popular demand of bringing back English after it was removed from syllabus in 1980. In 1991-92, the Jyoti Basu Government had accepted the Ashok Mitra Commission report which recommended English from Class VI. But its members were divided with a note of dissent from educationists, like Sunanda Sanyal and others, who recommended English from Class I.
With rising parental discontent, the SUCI had begun a movement and organised three successful state-wide bandhs on the debate. The party also organised English examinations in private to which thousands of parents responded.
On the CPI(M) move, writer and academician R.K. Dasgupta said: ‘‘English educated middle-class was a threat to Marxists. By having abolished the subject at primary level, the party has nipped the threat for more than two generations. They are now planning to go back because there’s no opposition in the state and they have nothing to fear.’’