This refers to the article, “Making students lifeless robots” (May 24) by JS Rajput. The problem lies not only in what the young are taught but also in the language in which they are forced to learn and express themselves. Indian students in English-medium schools are at a huge disadvantage compared to their peers elsewhere in the world.
Except for a handful of students who speak English at home, others are forced to gain knowledge in an alien tongue that is not their mother-language. As for those who are schooled in their mother-tongues, they have to put in a lot of effort after Class XII to be able to read complicated textbooks in English for further studies.
Decision-makers, who are fluent in English, often don't realise the burden they impose on students. Fluency in English does not come automatically to a human being. letting children study in their mother-tongue and then make them learn English as a subject is the way to go.