According to NCERT study, Jammu & Kashmir tops the charts for most English classes at the upper primary level with nine periods a week.
In Karnataka, it was found five periods were dedicated to English in a week at all stages of schooling -primary, upper primary and secondary -while Sikkim dedicates 10 hours a week for teaching the language at the secondary level.
Along with Punjab, Manipur, Tripura, Odisha and West Bengal, Karnataka is yet to implement the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).
Besides Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have allocated eight periods weekly for English-language teaching at the primary level.
However, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya do not give much importance to English.
The study was conducted under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) that had suggested English be introduced as a second language at the primary level.
The study pointed out that the choice of the subject rests with the parents and does not depend on academic or feasibility issues of schools.
Other Findings of Study:
In terms of giving importance to mother tongue, West Bengal, which conducts an examination for Bengali language for 200 marks for upper primary students, tops the list.
At the secondary level in Karnataka, Kannada, offered as the first language along with Sanskrit and English, accounts for 125 marks. However, most states cap marks for the mother tongue to 100.
The report found that 15 states across the country follow NCERT prescribed curriculum and textbooks.
In Sikkim, where working hours are seven daily, students are given two breaks – one of 15 minutes and another of 35 minutes.
At the secondary school level, three recesses are given in schools in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala, while Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra provide just two breaks daily.
Interestingly, Puducherry has a system of just one 15-minute break throughout six-hour school day.