1050 Telugu students following POL classes

About 12 years ago, there were a number of primary Telugu schools in Malaysia and it was from 1968 till 1992 that Telugu language was offered as an optional subject in LCE/PMR and MCE examinations. But it was from 1972 that of teaching Telugu was allow in other primary and secondary schools as “People Own Language” (POL) classes. And this was in accordance to the Article 152(1) (b) of the Federal Constitution guarantees to teach or learn any other language.

To date, there are about 1050 students who are following POL Telugu classes at some of the government schools such as at Bagan Datoh, Sungai Sumun,Hutan Melintang,Teluk Intan, Klang, Shah Alam, Sunway, Puchong, Batu Caves, Rawang Sitiawan, Bahau, Kulim and Sungai Petani which totals to about 35 classes.

And the teachers who are conducting this Telugus classes are Sri A. S. Maniam, Ramulu, Kanniah, Soorinarayana, Smt Sarawathy, Sri Demudu, Apalasamy, P.Naidu, MahaLatchmi,B K Simanchalam, Ramulu, Appalanaidu,Smt KrishnaKumari , Samudram and Smt Priaya.

But what is saddened and disappointed is, ever since 1993 Telugu language is not being offered any more as an optional subject in LCE/PMR and MCE examinations.

We are only ask our mother-tongue which was here prior to independence and after independence till 1992 to be reinstated in PMR/SPM examination so that Telugu language and culture will not be decimated.

Loss of Telugu language and culture will be a dent to the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia. So, by including Telugu language in PMR/SPM it will facilitate our efforts immensely and it will spur us further in the promotion of Telugu language and the students too will be motivated to take the subject.

Source : TAM / Telugu Malaysian- my small role in Telugu POL classes