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Khader asks officials to ensure water supply to schools

Mangaluru: DK District In-Charge Minister U T Khader directed officials from Department of Public Instruction to ensure that schools do not face water shortage for preparing midday meals, washing hands and other essentials.

Speaking to the media on Saturday the minister said that the Block Resource Persons (BRP) and Cluster Resource Persons (CRP) had been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that water is supplied to the schools either through tankers or by drilling borewells.

English in government schools

There is a huge demand for government schools, where the state government has introduced English from Class 1 in the current academic year – 2019-20. In fact, a few School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) have sought permissions to start English medium from this academic year, informed the minister. The government has already started English medium in 43 government schools.

“We will seek permission to start English medium in additional government schools from this academic year itself,” added Khader.

New high schools

Mr Khader said that the government had sanctioned eight high schools to the district last year and the grants for the construction of buildings for the newly sanctioned high schools have been released under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

“Accordingly, Rs 1.39 crore each has been sanctioned to five schools while Rs 1.50 crore each has been sanctioned to three schools. Tender has been floated for the work,” he informed.

Nine government schools in the district have been brought under Karnataka Public School system by the state government and all the necessary facilities will be provided for these schools on a priority basis to improve infrastructure facilities, informed the minister and added that around Rs 5 lakh has been released for these schools to take up immediate works. Additional teachers will be recruited to these schools, said Khader.

Classroom repair

Rs 2.41 crore has been released to repair the classrooms of higher primary schools which are in a poor condition. Around Rs 68 lakh has been released to repair the classrooms in high schools in the district, said the minister.

Textbooks

As much as 80% of the required textbooks have already been supplied and the pending textbooks will be supplied to the schools shortly, said Khader.

Branded shoes this year

This academic year, the students in Class 1 to Class X in government schools across the state will get to wear branded shoes. In the backdrop of complaints received regarding the quality of shoes supplied under free shoe-shocks scheme last year, the department of primary and secondary education has issued an order directing SDMCs to go for shoes from branded companies. In Dakshina Kannada, the rules have been relaxed for purchasing sandals instead of shoes as well, explained Khader.

Guest teacher

Posts the process of the transfer of teachers and additional teachers is completed, the SDMCs have been directed to recruit guest teachers if necessary for the schools, said the minister.

Last year, 526 guest teachers were recruited in primary schools and 89 in high schools in the district. This year there is a demand for 564 guest teachers in primary schools and 101 guest teachers in high schools in the district, added Khader.

Smart Card

Speaking of the confusion regarding the KSRTC bus passes for schoolchildren Mr Khader said, “I have brought the issue to the notice of transport minister and chief minister. The old bus passes are valid till June 6. After June 6, smart cards will be issued to the schoolchildren using bus passes.”