Will press for demands of teachers, says minister

Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports Abhayachandra Jain said that he will press for the demand to include aided school teachers under Jyothi Sanjeevini health insurance of the State government, during the Assembly session which commences on Monday.

Speaking at ‘Ksha-Kirana 4’ organised by the DK unit of Karnataka Aided School Teachers’ Association here on Saturday, he said the aided school teachers have demanded extension of health insurance scheme. “I will discuss it with the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Rathnakar and will impress upon the government on demands of the aided school teachers.”

He said the fee for quality assessment of the aided schools are borne by the management of the school. This practice has become a burden for Kannada medium schools.

The government will be urged to drop to waive off the fee for aided schools as well while conducting the quality assesment.

MLA J R Lobo said Kannada medium schools are facing threat with the increase in English medium schools.

MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik said the government has been making an effort to close down aided Kannada medium schools. To solve the problems faced by the aided schools, the government should take over all the aided Kannada medium schools.

The aided school teachers demanded the government to appoint teachers on the ratio of 1:30 as per the RTE Act. The facilities like free uniforms, concession for girl children’s education, Chinnara Jilla Darshana, fee less quality assessment should be extended to the aided schools. The additional payment given for the assistant teachers in government schools should be extended to aided schools. The facilities under Jyothi Sanjeevini scheme should be extended to aided schools, they said.