The Madras HC has sought the reply of the Tamil Nadu govt on a PIL filed by a former DMK MLA seeking the introduction of spoken English as a compulsory course in the state govt schools. The petitioner claimed that students who were not taught in English medium faced difficulty later when they pursued higher education. The petitioner claimed that these students find it hard to follow instruction in English and are also unable to mix socially with other students. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Karnataka, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has faced criticism for implementing English as a medium of instruction in the state govt schools. The question is, is it time to accept the fact that English competence is increasingly seen as a requirement for employability?
