APPENDIX J :
PLACE OF ENGLISH IN THE SECONDARY
 SCHOOLS.
 

The Secondary Education Commission who have examined the question relating to the place of English in the Secondary school curriculum at considerable length in their report had before them conflicting views on this subject. On the one hand "Many eminent educationists and scientists have expressed the opinion that under no circumstances should we sacrifice the many advantages that we have gained by the study of English. They hold that in matters pertaining to education, sentiment should not be the ruling factor, and that what was most urgently needed was that our youth acquire know. ledge from all sources and contribute their share to its expansion and deve-

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lopment. In the attainment of this objective, the study of English was bound to play an important part" and on the other there were witnesses who "feel of English in the Educational system needs to be re-examined in the new setthat the whole position up, particularly at the Middle and High School level. They are definitely opposed to the introduction of English at the Basic stage, i. e. the first seven or eight years of a child's education." Thus while one section recommended that English should be a full subject of study at the Middle school stage, others felt that under the present conditions, and taking due note of the development of the regional languages and the official language of the Centre, it is necessary that a sound knowledge of English should be considered a prerequisite at the higher level of learning whether in the universities or in other institutions. Taking all things into consideration the Commission made the following recommendations with regard to the place of the subject at the Middle and Higher Secondary stage.

1. Every school should make provision for the teaching of the official language, Hindi, and the international language, English. It may, however be provided that English is not to be treated as a compulsory subject of study, if the pupil or guardian does not wish it to be studied.

2. At the Higher Secondary stage, provision should be made for the study of elementary English and of advanced English, both as optional subjects.

Since the publication of the Report, however, the question of the place of English in the Secondary schools has received a great deal of public attention. Several eminent men and women have expressed the view that the proper place of English in the Higher Secondary stage should be that of a compulsory subject of study. Many seminars of headmasters and Educational Officers, Educational conferences and representatives of Universities and Higher Technical Institutions have also expressed the same view. Dr. J. C. Ghosh in a recent letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Education, has requested to consider the possibility of making English as a compulsory subject of study at the Secondary Education stage. The University Grants Committee have at their meeting held on 7th October, 1955, passed a resolution appointing a Committee to examine the problem of the medium of instruction at the University stage and to recommend ways and means of securing an adequate proficiency in English at this stage, They have further resolved to request the All-India Council for Secondary Education to consider whether English should not be made a compulsory subject at the Secondary stage.

Apparently the matter needs re-examination. The Ministry of Education would like to refer the issue to the Central Advisory Board of Education and solicit their guidance in formulating a national policy with regard to the place of this subject in the Secondary school curriculum.