Karnataka to Introduce Bilingual Education in Government Schools From 2026-27

The Department of School Education and Literacy has officially announced that bilingual education, incorporating both Kannada and English, will be introduced across government schools in 15 districts of Karnataka starting from the 2026-27 academic year.

According to state education officials, the primary objective behind this major educational shift is to strengthen student learning outcomes and significantly improve enrolment rates in government-run schools.

The newly announced initiative is scheduled to roll out across several categories of public institutions. These include Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), PM SHRI schools, and various other government schools that currently operate with pre-primary sections. In addition to these institutions, the bilingual teaching model will also be introduced in all government primary schools located within mining-affected taluks across the state.

Officials from the Department of School Education and Literacy stated that the government is actively preparing to introduce this bilingual teaching methodology starting right from the Lower Kindergarten (LKG) level. The curriculum at this early stage will focus on dual-language learning, specifically emphasizing both Kannada and English. Under this plan, English lessons will officially begin at the LKG level to introduce the language to students at an early age.

To ensure the successful implementation of the program, the department has already completed extensive preparation. Nearly 1,55,950 teachers have already received specialized training to equip them for managing bilingual classrooms and delivering lessons effectively in both languages.

The department highlighted that this transition is supported by educational research. Studies show that bilingual learning provides multiple cognitive benefits for young students, including improvements in memory, overall cognitive abilities, and early language development.

This major reform is expected to reshape the early education landscape in the state's public school system, providing students with a strong foundation in both the regional language and English from their very first years of schooling.