149 Gnanaganga students get temporary relief

Parents submit memorandum to DDPI

A report submitted by Block Education Officer (South), regarding the derecognition of Gnaganga Vidyapeetha in the city has raised hopes among students studying in the School.

In the report, BEO Shivaramegowda has suggested that recognition should be continued till the end of the current academic year, so that 149 SSLC students can attend Board examination scheduled next year.

The report was submitted to the Deputy Director of Public Instruction on Friday.Meanwhile, parents of students studying in the School also submitted a memorandum, requesting the department to temporarily extend the recognition.

In the month of November, Mohammed Mohsin, Commissioner of the Department of Public Instruction had quashed a review petition filed by the Headmaster of the School, regarding recognition.

The letter had noted that derecognising the School was warranted, as the School management had not issued any clarifications, regarding the alleged mismanagement of Student Welfare Fund, despite several notices by the Department.

SWF misuse

Initially there were allegations that secretary of the School management had misused funds, collected as Student Welfare Fund, to the tune of Rs 80 lakh.

“However, during investigation, the Department learnt that the misuse amounted to Rs 18.71 lakh,” Shivaramegowda said. Recognition was then cancelled, as a final decision over mismanagement of funds was not taken by the Department.

He added that the School management had kept both students and teachers in the dark, about the fact that recognition was not renewed since the past ten years. It was only after the Department intervened did they learn about the same, he said.

Review

He said that despite the order, there was room for the management to request the government to review the order. “If they approach the government and seek extension based on the concerns of SSLC students, they might get it,” he said.

However, the management has not been keen on pursuing these steps, he added.The order which is currently in place, is applicable to high school classes of the School, in which a total of 340 students study.

The issue is now being taken up with Primary and Secondary Education department, by local elected representatives.

Memorandum

K S Seshadri, Headmaster of the School said that parents have submitted a memorandum to both BEO and DDPI. “During their visit, department officials have assured of extending recognition. However, official orders regarding the issue is awaited,” he added.