CHENNAI: The English medium sections launched by the Corporation of Chennai in its schools have entered the third year, and it is being met with enthusiasm by parents who have increasingly enrolled their children in these sections. With growing value for education in English, Corporation officials say they examine the possibility of expanding the programme.At first, the Corporation launched the English medium sections in 29 schools and later expanded it to 69 schools. The English medium sections today have over 2,100 students, with marginally more girls. Currently, the English medium sections exist only for students of upto Class 3.Corporation officials have termed the reception of the English medium ‘encouraging and healthy’ and the excitement about the system among parents is also palpable. “I went to a Corporation School and I was taught in Tamil. But now my son has been enrolled in an English medium section in a Corporation School. I have great hopes for him,” says 34-year-old K Batcha, an electrician by profession. “Don’t get me wrong,” he adds in a hurry. “I love the Tamil language. But these days a good living comes only with knowledge of English.” Other parents who spoke to City Express expressed similar sentiments. They say neighbours and well-wishers advised them against putting their children in the English medium sections at a nascent stage of the Corporation’s initiative. But their aspirations for their children prevailed.“My father-in-law kept asking what good an English education would do in a state like Tamil Nadu. I pointed to the swanky apartment block being built behind our house and told him that it would give my daughter an opportunity to buy a house in a building like that. That silenced him,” says S Mallika, a housewife.” Mallika adds that it has become standard practice at home to make her daughter Harini recite English rhymes to visitors, with the grandfather beaming from his chair. Corporation bosses say if the trend of high demand continues then they will open more such sections across the city. “A convent education has always been coveted. But not many can afford to give one to their children. Most of the parents who send their children to our schools are poor. The initiative was part of a large number of steps we took on the education front,” says Mayor M Subramanian.Top Corporation officials say they are watching the reception closely. “The Corporation had launched these English medium sections because it perceived a demand for them. Right now we have a healthy enrolment in these sections,” says Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan. “We will definitely launch English medium sections in more schools when the need arises,” he assures.
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