Maharashtra's Kannada Teachers Face Language Barriers in Eligibility Tests
Kannada-medium teachers in Maharashtra face ‘language’ test
Deccan Herald
Image: Deccan Herald
Kannada-medium teachers in Maharashtra are struggling to pass eligibility tests due to question papers being available only in Marathi or English. This has led to a shortage of qualified Kannada teachers, prompting concerns over the future of Kannada-medium education in the state.
- 01Candidates face language barriers in eligibility tests for Kannada teacher positions.
- 02Pro-Kannada organizations claim this leads to a shortage of qualified teachers.
- 03The Maharashtra government is under pressure to address the issue before upcoming exams.
- 04Existing teachers fear for their jobs if they cannot pass the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test.
- 05Calls for intervention from the Karnataka government and constitutional protections for linguistic minorities are growing.
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In Maharashtra, candidates who completed their D.Ed or B.Ed in Kannada medium are encountering significant challenges while attempting to take eligibility tests for teaching positions. The Maharashtra State Council of Examinations (MSCE) provides question papers only in Marathi or English, despite offering a 'Kannada' medium option during application. This has resulted in many qualified candidates failing the tests, raising concerns about a shortage of Kannada-medium teachers. The issue has gained attention with the MSCE announcing a recruitment exam for 135 Kannada teachers scheduled for June 26. Malikjan Shaikh, president of the Adarsha Kannada Balaga, emphasized that Kannada-speaking candidates are unfairly disadvantaged compared to Marathi speakers who receive question papers in their native language in Karnataka. The situation is exacerbated by the requirement for all teachers in Maharashtra to pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) by 2027, as mandated by the Supreme Court. The ongoing language policy issues threaten the careers of over a thousand existing Kannada teachers. There are increasing demands for the Karnataka government to intervene, with fears that the lack of qualified teachers could lead to the closure of Kannada-medium schools, adversely affecting Kannada culture and education in the region. The Kannada Development Authority has reached out to Maharashtra officials, advocating for the rights of Kannada speakers, while calls for constitutional protections are being made to ensure the safeguarding of linguistic minorities.
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The inability to pass language tests could lead to a significant shortage of Kannada-medium teachers, jeopardizing the future of Kannada education in Maharashtra.
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