Yogi Adityanath snubs RSS, plans to introduce English from nursery level in UP

Lucknow, Apr 8: Since Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yogi Adityanath has taken over as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, a section of the society have been warning of increasing shadow of Hindutva in government policies. Yogi Adityanath, however, kept aside the antipathy of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for English language and is planning to introduce the ‘foreign language’ in government schools from nursery instead of Class 6. Yogi Adityanath emphasised that Uttar Pradesh needs ‘an education which promotes nationalism but is modern’.

Yogi Adityanath, the head of the Hindu right wing outfit Hindu Yuva Vahini, said the Uttar Pradesh government will introduce English language in government schools from nursery. “We have decided to introduce English in government schools from nursery. There is no reason why they should be made to wait till Class VI to learn the language,” Yogi Adityanath said in an interview with online portal Khabare.com. The statement came as a big surprise RSS has been known for the anti-English attitude.

To reform the education system of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath said he had asked officials to prepare an education roadmap to enrol more students in schools, check cheating in examinations and introduce foreign language options from class 10. “The traditional and the modern should blend,” the 44-year-old leader said.

Notably, Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, an RSS-affiliate outfit demanded the Union Human Resource Development Ministry to phase out English language as the medium of instruction at all levels. Similar demand was made in Goa where Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch asked the state government to withdraw grants to English-medium schools.