Closure of LKG, UKG in govt schools: Legal fight likey

Kannada Development Authority chairman's order raises hackles

 For Rajesh and his friends who have been looking into the betterment of Nerla Government School, a direction of DDPI Walter D’Mellow to close all the English medium classes of LKG and UKG in government schools has come as a shock.

He and a few like-minded individuals are looking into the possibility of a legal fight demanding to allow interested government schools to start LKG and UKG sections to save government schools from closure.

The order passed on May 17, just 14 days before the start of the new academic year, has put at stake the future of students, who studied in English medium last year. The DDPI passed the order following an objections to open English-medium classes in the pre-primary section in some government schools by Chairman of Kannada Development Authority (KDA) S G Siddaramaiah.

When DH contacted Rajesh, he said the KDA’s direction is arbitrary. “Why the KDA is engaged in discrimination when it comes to children from government schools. What would be the future of children who have studied in LKG at government schools last year?” he asked.

“Pre-school education is an indispensable for development of personality of children. But most of the nursery and kindergarten schools were run by private individuals. They charge high fees. As a result, pre-school education is limited to children from rich families.  The poor should also avail the benefit of pre-school education. We will fight for the cause of poor children,” he said and added that a delegation would meet deputy commissioner shortly. The school had 25 students last year for LKG. 

Kannada Chinnara Mane

Hemanath Shetty, who has adopted Kavu Government School which is more than 100 years old, said the enrolment of students in the school  has increased drastically after the introduction of LKG and UKG.

“The school had 65 children for LKG and UKG last year. As an old student of the school, I wanted to save the school from closure. With English as a subject taught from LKG, the students will have a fair knowledge on English and will be able to speak fluently by they reach fifth standard. This year, we had 80 children enrolling for LKG and UKG. As a majority of these children hail from poor families, where will they go if the move to close LKG/UKG is materialised?” he asked.

The objection by KDA chairman favours private schools rather than helping in sustaining the government schools in the state. Even in LKG and UKG, the children are taught Kannada. “Following the direction of the DDPI, we have decided to name LKG as Kannada Chinnara Mane 1 and UKG as Kannada Chinnara Mane 2.

I will also write to the KDA chairman on the inconvenience caused to the parents and children following his objections and will also bring it to his notice the improvement in enrolment ratio with the introduction of LKG-UKG in government schools. At the same time, we, like-minded people, will meet minister for primary and secondary education as well.

Even the Zilla Panchayat Standing Committee on Health and Education chairman Shahul Hameed  has promised  us of raising the issue in the Zilla Panchayat meeting and pass a resolution against the objection put forth by the KDA chairman,” Shetty said.