In a move to promote regional language and culture, the Telangana government has made Telugu a compulsory subject for all students in the state. Effective immediately, students across all boards will have to study Telugu from Class 1 to Class 10, with an emphasis on regional language proficiency.
This decision aims to strengthen the use of Telugu within educational institutions, ensuring that the language is preserved and promoted among the younger generation. The state’s Department of Education has issued official orders mandating the subject in schools, regardless of whether they follow the state board or CBSE curriculum.
While this move has been praised for fostering local identity and linguistic pride, it also comes amid a larger debate in India regarding the imposition of regional languages in schools. The decision follows the Tamil Nadu-Hindi controversy, where the imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu schools sparked widespread protests. Telangana’s stance aims to reinforce Telugu’s significance in the state’s educational framework without causing friction between other regional languages.
Parents, students, and educators in Telangana will now have to adjust to this new requirement, with the expectation that it will benefit students by promoting bilingualism and preserving the local language. Critics, however, worry about the additional academic pressure this may place on students, particularly those from non-Telugu speaking backgrounds.
The Telangana government has stated that the decision is part of its broader agenda to preserve and promote Telugu culture, aligning with the state’s vision of a robust educational system rooted in its traditions.
