Karnataka SEP Proposes Bilingual Policy: Kannada, English Mandatory

Bengaluru, Aug 9, 2025: Karnataka is set for a major education shake-up. The State Education Policy (SEP) Commission, chaired by former UGC chief Prof Sukhadeo Thorat, has put forth a detailed proposal to restructure the state’s school system. Their recommendations include implementing a mandatory bilingual policy—students would learn in Kannada (or their mother tongue) along with English. The commission submitted an extensive three-volume, 2,197-page report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday. This move aligns with Congress’ campaign pledge to move away from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and introduce a framework tailored specifically for Karnataka. (Representative Image Courtesy - Pixabay)

Mandating Kannada or Mother Tongue as Medium of Instruction

The State Education Policy (SEP) now states that Kannada or whichever language the student speaks at home should be the main medium of instruction up through Class 5, with a strong recommendation to extend this through Class 12 if possible. This marks a notable shift from the previous three-language requirement. The new approach focuses on just two: Kannada (or the mother tongue) and English.

To implement this, the commission recommends targeted training for teachers in bilingual education and the creation of a dedicated Language Teaching Center. This aligns closely with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s push for a streamlined two-language framework. Notably, Maharashtra’s recent move to abandon its own three-language policy has added momentum to this conversation, prompting further review and discussion around language strategy in education.

Structural Reforms and Other Key Proposals

SEP is proposing a significant shift from the standard education model. Instead of the familiar 5+3+3+4 structure from the NEP, they’re suggesting a 2+8+4 format: two years of pre-primary, eight years of elementary, and four years of secondary education. This isn’t just a numbers game. They want to standardize the Class 1 admission age to six years (plus or minus three months), bringing some much-needed consistency to the process.

The plan also expands the Right to Education Act, ensuring coverage from age four all the way up to eighteen. That’s a broader net, aimed at increasing access and inclusivity. Small schools, by the way, aren’t going anywhere keeping those open is seen as critical for equitable access, especially in less urban areas.

On the curriculum front, SEP wants to move away from the uniform NCERT textbooks and instead prioritize localized content to address regional needs. They’re also recommending stricter oversight for private schools especially regarding fees and quotas to combat unchecked privatization and enforce compliance.

Backing all these recommendations is a pretty comprehensive consultation: 379 experts, 35 task forces. The emphasis is on embedding constitutional values into the curriculum and boosting the education budget to 30% of state spending.

Keywords: Karnataka education policy, bilingual policy, Kannada mandatory, English in schools, SEP commission, mother tongue education, two-language policy, Sukhadeo Thorat, NEP replacement, Karnataka schools