Shortage of teachers rocks Udupi ZP meet

The issue of shortage of teachers in Kannada medium schools rocked the general body meeting of Zilla Panchayat, here on Friday.

The issue was raised by members Ananth Kumar Muwadi, Uday Kotyan and Arun Kumar Shetty. The DDPI said that the programme “Shalegagi Navu Neevu” is organised from July 6 to July 31 to boost the number of students in Kannada medium schools as against the recent phenomenon of Kannada medium schools witnessing fewer admissions.

Some members were of the opinion that it is better to introduce English medium schools from 6thstandard to attract more students. However, there were also reservations regarding the facilities of quality education raised by other members.

Member Ananth Muwadi said it is essential to provide quality infrastructural facilities to the students and also the standard should match up to the quality education offered in English medium schools. He also raised objections to honor distinguished meritorious students who achieved ranks in SSLC, in ZP.

He said all these students are privileged with better educational facilities. He questioned regarding the arrangements made for poor students who attend schools with much difficulties. He also said there is shortage of teachers in the schools of Byndoor zone and also in some of the naxal prone areas.

Muwadi alleged that teachers belonging to SC/ST category are deputed as they don’t have voice to raise objections against the deputation. Teachers who can get transfer in favour of them by influence are not transferred to distant places from their native place. Member Ganapathy Siriyan also raised objections that there are ten posts that have fallen vacant under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

The matter is not made public. He said there areno teachers in naxal areas and also in the schools set up under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The teacher student ratio is not properly maintained, he alleged.

DDPI Nagendra Madhyastha said the problem will be set right when as many as 24 government higher primary schools in the district will be upgraded with 8th standard. He said the government has issued notice to upgrade the higher primary schools with 50 students in 7th standard to 8th standard.

In the second phase, the schools with 30 students will be considered and consequently, all government higher primary schools will be upgraded to 8th standard. He said as many as 450 applications are received for the teachers post to be recruited in naxal prone areas of the district.

The recruitment is purely based on merit and candidates are also considered based on the geographical proximity. DDPI said a proposal is sent to finance department for the financial assistance.

The other issue was regarding the delayed distribution of school uniforms. Earlier, uniforms were distributed through ZP.

However, the work is taken up by the government from the current academic year and uniforms are supplied from Bangalore. MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary said that ZP should write to the government demanding their rights. He said it is better to go for earlier system to avoid impediment.

Replying to a query regarding environment safety measures adopted by the rice mills in Koteshwara, Environment Officer said the mills have been issued notice instructing to implement all environment safety measures. Central Effluent Treatment Plants are set up and also mills have been asked to implement insulate rubber to avoid environment hazards owing to dust and effluent particles.

Varahi project was another issue that rocked the floor of the house. Members demanded that the huge boulders and other construction materials put across the road are creating problems to the commuters and also the vehicles.

 Executive Engineer assured to set right the problem. There was also demand for increase in the honorarium given to ZP members.