With pro-Kannada organisations and litterateurs strongly opposing primary and secondary education minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri’s move to close down unviable schools, the moot question of what could be done with these schools remains unanswered.
Kageri had announced that the government would close down lower and higher primary schools that have less than 10 students and transfer students to schools nearby. Due to the lack of proper communication, the announcement has stirred up emotions and evoked strong opposition and the government has come under fire. The minister has been accused of playing into the hands of private schools.
While the concerns of pro-Kannada activists and litterateurs about the well-being of Kannada primary schools is appreciable, a look at the ground reality reveals that the schools are unviable and something concrete needs to be done.
According to statistics from official sources, there are 590 lower primary schools and 27 higher primary schools (i.e. 617) in Karnataka with less than five students each and there are 838 teachers in the schools.
The break-up of schools with less than 10 students in the state is 1,893 lower primary and 47 higher primary schools (total 1,940) with 2,945 teachers.
Schools having less than 15 students: 2,606 lower primary and 75 higher primary (total 2,681) and there are 4,654 teachers with them.
More From This Section
There are 2,844 lower primary and 112 higher primary schools (total 2,956) that have less than 20 students each and there are 5,785 teachers in these schools.
Giving into pressures from various quarters, the government in the first phase has decided to shift the students from schools where the strength is less than five to another school within a radius of 3 kms and transfer the teachers to those schools.
The government has also decided to provide transportation arrangements for the students.
It has clarified that the schools with less than five students should be allowed to continue in case there are no schools within a radius of 3 kms. The government has also proposed that the staff for mid-day meal scheme would also be transferred to the nearby school.
“One has to look at the problem with a realistic view and take a decision. The schools with less than 20 students are really unviable and continuing them would be feasible only if there is the possibility of an improvement in the student strength in the next couple of years. Those opposing the government’s move should come out with suggestions on what’s to be done with these schools,” said retired professor S P Hiremath.
Reacting to the allegations that he was playing into the hands of the private school managements, Kageri clarified that the decision to shift the students from schools where strength is less than five was purely over consideration of quality education.
Kageri told Business Standard, “We have exempted schools in Malnad, border areas and coastal areas that have less than five students. They will not be shifted. It is important that students should have a good learning atmosphere and develop competitive ability.” The local committees have been asked to decide on the fate of schools having more than six students and less than 10 students, he added. It is the Central government’s direction that schools with less than 10 students should be merged with nearby schools. Those opposing the government’s move should study the issue in detail before reacting”.