Skirts out, salwars in

This year’s budget brings a lot of promise to students studying in government schools. Thrust has been laid on providing better facilities, coaching and attire for schoolchildren.

A budgetary allocation of Rs 18,266 crore has been set aside for primary and secondary education this year as against Rs 17,373 crore in the previous budget. Even in the 2016-17 budget, emphasis was on providing quality education in government schools.

To tide over the existing manpower shortage, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that 10,000 trained graduate teachers for primary schools and 1,626 high school teachers and 1,191 PU teachers would be recruited in two stages.

Besides, need-based restructured medium to long term training would be offered to 50,000 teachers and lecturers in specific core subjects and languages including English. This is being done to strengthen capacity of District Education and Training Institutions.

Quality of education will get a boost with the introduction of revised text books for classes 1 to 10 and NCERT textbooks for selected subjects in class 9 to 12. Supplementary teaching will be also be arranged during vacations in government schools under the banner ‘Vishwasa Kirana’.