PTI
 
Bangalore, Sept 20: An uncertain future lies ahead for more than one lakh school students a few days before the Dasara vacation, following the Karnataka government's decision to serve closure orders on 1,461 primary schools for violating conditions set for them on the medium of instruction.

The government, in its zeal to promote Kannada in schools, recently decided to crack the whip on private schools that secured permission to start schools to teach in Kannada, but never implemented it and switched over to English medium.

In the last two days, notices had been served withdrawing recognition to more than 800 schools in the city, an education department official said.

Notices were being served on the remaining schools, he said. The decision has triggered panic among parents, as they are unsure of alternative measures to shift them to recognised schools, which the government has been promising.

A big question mark hangs over accommodating about one lakh children who will be displaced, as many existing recognised schools have poor infrastructure.

Following the craze among parents to send their wards only to English medium schools, this sector has become a commercial venture and most private schools are packed to capacity.

The displaced students will face another difficulty, as they will be forced to start learning in Kannada medium, to which they have not been exposed till now.

The government's move has raised the question over availability of teachers in these schools.