The meeting chaired by MLC Putanna had representatives from various teachers association express displeasure over the new policy and say that the rule was framed in an unscientific manner.

They said  lecturers could do a BEd course but it was not “necessary” as they would have already completed their master’s degree. They were against the “mandatory” condition. The teachers charged that the government move indicated that the State wanted to bring the PU Department under the Commissionarate of Public Department (CPI).

“It should not happen that the lecturers are forced to teach high school students stating that they have completed BEd,” a lecturer said. They said that BEd was a qualification required to teach high school students. There is a clear difference between teaching a high school student and a PU student.

“For high school students, it is more memory-based learning but for PU students it’s understanding and analysing the subjects,” the lecturers said. Some of them said that it was one of the alternative ways to fill up the seats in BEd colleges.

MLC Putanna said that since the Government Order has already been issued, there is no other option but to protest. “The objective of this policy is to make PU lecturers teach SSLC students,” he said.
In this regard, a state-level meeting comprising MLC, lecturers and representatives from various association will be held on February 13. On the same day, a memorandum will be submitted to the Governor.