Makkala Mane evokes good response in Mandya district

‘Makkala Mane’, an initiative of School Development Monitoring Committee (SDMC) to draw children to government schools by setting up Lower and Upper Kindergarten Grade (LKG and UKG) for students below five years of age, has evoked good response in the district. As many as 1,259 children have been enrolled already.

The main objective of ‘Makkala Mane’  is to convince the private school-obsessed parents to bring their wards to government school.

The student strength was dwindling at most of the government schools in the district, including that which had completed 100 years. Following this, the government had mooted merger of 191 schools of the district, which has now been deferred.

As the minimum age for admission into the government schools is five years, the parents get them admitted to private schools soon after the anganwadi daycare centres. Gradually, they lose interest in government schools as they want their wards to learn English, which is necessary in this competitive world.

Now, with ‘Makkala Mane’ providing LKG and UKG education, the students can be admitted to the government schools right after anganwadi. Around 43 ‘Makkala Mane’ have been opened across the district and 1,259 students have been admitted so far. For LKG, 388 boys and 355 girls were enrolled. Similarly, for UKG it is 268 boys and 248 girls.

Good response

Speaking to Deccan Herald, M Shivamadappa, Deputy Director of Public Instructions, said that the good response for the ‘Makkala Mane’ across the district has given some hope to the officials. However, Shivamadappa clarified that ‘Makkala Mane’ is not a government programme but an initiative of the SDMC, teachers and alumni students. While mid-day meals would be shared on an understanding, the remaining expenses will be borne by the SDMC.

Teachers have been appointed on an honorary basis. Students will have to wear uniforms. Desk and other furniture have been arranged and at a few schools English and computer classes will also be conducted, he added.

The SDMC officials said that the government itself should begin ‘Makkala Mane’, appoint teachers, construct classrooms or allott them, if available already. This would definitely convince more parents to bring their wards to the kindergarten classes run by SDMCs with necessary help from the government.