Bengaluru: Karnataka will introduce a bilingual education policy in government schools across the state from the next academic year, School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa announced in Bengaluru.

Under the new system, both Kannada and English will be used as mediums of instruction in government schools. The government says the move is aimed at improving English proficiency while ensuring Kannada remains the linguistic foundation.

According to Madhu Bangarappa, the policy is designed to help students from government schools compete with private school students and gain better academic and job opportunities. He stressed that Kannada will remain the priority language.

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The minister said English would not just be taught as a subject but also used as a medium of instruction to improve practical language skills, particularly for students in rural areas.

The decision follows positive outcomes from bilingual and English-medium sections already introduced in selected Karnataka Public Schools and other government institutions. The minister said these schools saw higher enrolment and increased interest from parents.

He added that the government’s goal is to ensure social justice in education by providing rural and economically weaker students access to quality English education without relying solely on private schools.

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As part of the rollout, the education department will introduce specialised training programmes for teachers to adapt to bilingual classrooms. Plans are also being made to improve teachers’ English communication skills in collaboration with organisations such as the British Council.

The curriculum and textbooks will also be revised to ensure a balanced approach between Kannada and English instruction.

Responding to concerns about academic performance, Bangarappa said reforms in examination systems, including webcasting and monitoring, have improved transparency. However, he acknowledged that further improvements in results are still needed.

The education department is expected to release detailed guidelines, including implementation steps and teacher training frameworks, in the coming weeks.