APPENDIX M-
MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN
 NON-LANGUAGE SUBJECTS IN
 EXAMINATIONS FOR THE ADMISSION OF
 BOYS INTO PREPARATORY
 INSTITUTIONS FOR THE ARMY, NAVY,
 AIR FORCE AND MERCHANT NAVY
 (MEMO BY BIHAR GOVERNMENT)
 

In the All-India examinations held for the admission of boys into preliminary Institutes for Military and Naval training (e.g. Prince of Wales Military College or the Dufferin Trainingship and similar junior institutions) the medium of examination is English. But according to the recommendation of the Central Advisory Board of Education the teaching of English has been abolished, in lower forms in most states and it generally starts after the senior Basic stage at a level corresponding to class VII or class VIII (viz., age-group of 14 years or so). The existing system of selection for these institutions favours students reading in the European schools only and there is a common complaint that sons of richer parents, who can afford to send their children to schools run by Europeans (e.g., schools teaching for the Junior and Senior Cambridge Examinations) are practically given a preference. So the existing rules insisting on the knowledge of English even in the preliminary selection of students for the preparatory courses of the Army, Navy, etc.. may be changed and candidates may be given an intensive training in English, after their selection to these institutions where expert, staff should be easily available for the purpose. It will be seen that this suggestion does not run. counter to the undeniable necessity of giving to our young men in the Armed Forces a thorough grounding in English which has a high status as an international language.

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