Govt trying all ways to revive Kannada medium schools:Kota

The Minister for Port, Inland Water Transport and Muzrai Kota Srinivas Poojary said that the State government is committed to bring the poorest of the poor into mainstream of education.

Speaking after inaugurating the district-level teachers’ day celebrations organised jointly by Udupi district level Teachers Day Celebration Committee and Dr G Shankar Family trust, he said government has earmarked Rs 15.71 crores for education in the current budget.
It is the largest amount from any state in the country to be allotted for education.

However, there is less number of admissions in Kannada medium schools despite giving maximum facilities to children. If similar situation continues, then there might be possibilities of closing down nearly 70 per cent of Kannada medium schools in the coming years, he said.

The Government is trying all possible ways to revive Kannada medium schools in its best form to attract students. The Government has provided free uniforms, text books and bicycles to the children. Besides, the government also selects teachers for government schools purely based on merit, he added.

Stating that teachers have larger responsibilities of building up the nation by guiding the future generation of the country, the minister added teachers’ sacrificial profession brings them high admiration besides they are adorned for nurturing intellectual characters amongst the kids.

Citing the examples of MLCs of teachers’ constituencies, the minister said most of the times when discussions are held hours are taken away by MLCs from teachers’ constituencies in the House.

They discuss many issues pertaining to education expressing their concerns. This indicates that how teachers are accountable in the society, he said.

Delivering the special lecture on the occasion, renowned litterateur Nadoja Professor K S Nissar Ahmed called upon teachers to bridge the gap of hatredness among the students and help them out to develop healthy bonding with each other.

He lamented that the nation is shattered with hatredness and some vested interests are misusing religion to break down the nation. “We are moving away from the general idea of “live and let live” policy that in fact provides harmonious culture.

All religions are one and the preaching of all religions symbolises humanity. Sarcastically, the country which preached great spirituality to entire world is now facing catastrophe in the name of spirituality, Dharma and religion. In this backdrop, teachers do have major role to play, he said.

He also stressed that Kannada language should be conserved with all its spirit and people should adopt Kannada as life source.  All other languages can be sentinel and not a substitute to Kannada language.

A child can pick up lessons more effectively if he or she is taught in the mother tongue, he said and added Kannada is one language that has wonderful literature that bonds people through devotion and sensitivity, he said.

The teachers who were selected for district level award were felicitated on the occasion. The schools that scored cent percent results in SSLC exams were also honoured.