All pvt schools, colleges to get grant-in-aid

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, on Thursday, promised to bring all private educational institutions (both high schools and pre-university colleges) that were started before 1994 under the ambit of grant-in-aid, in a phased manner.

Replying to a query on delay in giving grants to many of the institutions in the Council on Thursday, the chief minister said he would shortly convene a meeting with Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri in this regard and re-start the process of bringing the institutions under grant-in-aid.

The process, however, will be completed in a phased manner owing to financial constraints, he added.

Basavaraj Horatti, Veeranna Mattikatti and Mahantesh Koujalgi highlighted the hunger strike by hundreds of teachers in Dharwad for the past 50 days, demanding grant-in-aid for their institutions.

Responding to the issue, the chief minister said so far the State government has given grant-in-aid to as many as 1,000 institutions. However, 1,250 institutions in the State are yet to get it.

The government was forced to halt the  process due to financial constraints arising out of severe drought situation in the State, the chief minister added. The government is committed to give grant-in-aid to all the institutions, promised D V Sadananda Gowda.

However, JD(S) member Puttanna warned of staging a protest in the House next week if the government fails to act.