Bengaluru, May 12 -- Karnataka will implement a bilingual education policy in government schools across the state within the next academic year, School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa announced saying the move is intended to improve English proficiency among students while retaining Kannada as the primary language foundation.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Bangarappa said Kannada and English would both be used as mediums of instruction under the new model. The policy, he said, is aimed at helping government school students compete with their counterparts in private schools and access wider educational and employment opportunities.

"Our priority will always be Kannada. However, to ensure our children do not ...