"I don't talk in Telugu" - that's what Class 7 students of a private school in Mahbubnagar were asked to write over and over.

Vasu, a child who was among those punished says, "Madam asked us to write 'I don't talk in Telugu' on 10 pages."

The teacher and school insist this was to help develop language skills. "Since this is English medium school, they should speak in English," says Sunitha, the teacher who ordered the exercise.

Just two days ago, a similar incident was reported from a school in Andhra's Kadapa district. A young boy and girl were forced to stand with placards saying 'I will not speak in Telugu' around their neck." The teacher in that case has been suspended.
Both the schools caught in these controversies are English-medium, and explain that therefore, they work hard to familiarize young children with English.

Parents agree that's why they've picked these schools; however, they argue that while learning English is important, children cannot be penalized for communicating in the language they're most comfortable with.