Panel suggests Malayalam language compulsory in schools

A committee set up by the Kerala Government has proposed teaching Malayalam at all levels of school education compulsory in the state.

According to Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan,the Cabinet today approved in principle the recommendations of the panel headed by educationist Dr R V G Menon.

The State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) had been asked to submit suggestions for implementation of the panel’s proposals,he said.

The Committee also recommended restructuring the periods in school classes to give due importance to the mother tongue of Malayalis.

The committee was set up amid concerns of Malayalam learning

losing importance at school levels following proliferation of English medium schools in the state.

Significantly,the committee report has come at a time when the state has been pressurising the Centre to accord classical status to the Malayalam as it is only South Indian language yet to get that coveted honour.

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Recently,a panel headed by Jnanpith laureate O N V Kurup had said in a report that Malayalam met all the parameters for granting the classical status like antiquity,a literary tradition that has evolved through centuries and grammatical features.

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