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A campaign demanding the Karnataka government implement a two-language policy in the state’s education system has gained momentum, with over 51,000 people signing a petition circulated by the forum "Namma Naadu-Namma Aalvike" (NNNA). The group has called for the immediate withdrawal of the current three-language policy in schools, arguing that students should be required to study only Kannada and English.
The petition addressed to the state authorities states, “We, the undersigned, representing the people of Karnataka under Namma Naadu, Namma Aalvike (NNNA), firmly oppose the three-language policy in schools. We demand a two-language policy, in which only Kannada and English are mandatory languages in school education.”
The forum cites multiple reasons for its demand, including the high failure rate in Hindi, which NNNA claims is the direct result of forcing students to learn an unfamiliar third language. According to the petition, more than 90,000 Class 10 (SSLC) students failed Hindi in 2024 alone. Campaigners argue that the added burden of a third language leads to increased academic pressure and has contributed to rising dropout rates, especially among students from rural areas.
The petition also highlights the precedent set by other states such as Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, where a two-language system is followed. NNNA points out that these states have not made a third language compulsory, yet their education systems function effectively. “A third language unnecessarily increases students' academic burden, making learning more stressful and less effective. If the third language is removed, students can dedicate more time and attention to the remaining subjects, which will help them achieve better results,” the petition states.
The forum emphasises that Kannada, as Karnataka’s official language, should remain central to the school curriculum, but English must also be taught effectively to ensure students’ global competitiveness. NNNA argues that learning a third language should be optional and not mandatory, noting that eliminating compulsory third-language requirements would free up resources to improve the quality of education in Kannada and English.
NNNA has demanded the state government withdraw the three-language policy immediately and enforce a uniform two-language system across both government and private schools. The group has also called for greater support to strengthen Kannada-medium schools while ensuring that students receive strong English education.
Over the past eight months, NNNA has conducted several public awareness drives, including a large-scale bike rally in Bengaluru on November 1, 2024. The forum claims that more than 27,000 people participated in previous rounds of petitions and public meetings focused on the language policy issue.
NNNA has urged the Karnataka government to take swift action to implement the two-language policy, arguing that such a move is necessary to reduce student stress, improve academic outcomes, and preserve the state’s linguistic identity.