JOIN USShift system for schools suggested
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who made the suggestion in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, said the proposal was open for debate. The pros and cons of the system could be discussed threadbare before implementation, he said.
Intervening during a discussion on the infrastructure in schools, Yeddyurappa said the shift system could be adopted as a temporary measure till infrastructure was in place for all schools.
In classes where excess number of students were there, the classes can be divided into morning and afternoon batches, he said.
He said there had been an increase in the number of students entering high schools and colleges every year. While new schools had been sanctioned by successive governments many were still under construction. The shift system would solve the problem.
The Chief Minister said teachers could also be taken into confidence before implementing the system.
Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said the government should take primary education as a priority programme and ensure all schools have proper classrooms, toilets and drinking water facility.
On the CM’s suggestion for adopting a shift system, he wondered whether teachers would agree with the proposal.
Earlier, replying to a question raised by Nadagouda Venkatarao (JD-S), Primary and Secondary Education Minister Visvesvara Hedge Kageri said the State government in 2007 had sanctioned 1,100 high schools. However, many of the schools had no classrooms and were being run in nearby institutions.
Engineering colleges
Higher Education Minister Aravind Limbavali told C Puttaranga Shetty (Cong) that the government will soon take up construction of new buildings to house the government engineering colleges in Chamarajnagar, K R Pet, Kushalnagar, Haveri, Raichur and Hadagali.
The government was also in the process of identifying land for 76 first grade colleges and would call for tenders for construction work within a month.