×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A govt teacher and his 'class struggle'

Last Updated 18 May 2010, 17:41 IST

Located in Tyaganadoddi village of the Malur Taluk, the school has few takers as parents prefer sending their kids to the nearby ‘Convent’ schools. The matter surfaced when a citizen activist, Usha Shetty came across a child from the village who narrated the status of the school.

Subsequently, she filed a number of Right To Information (RTI) applications with the Education Department.

Usha is yet to receive all the information but the facts given to her presents a shocking picture.

Although it was begun in 1978, the school has no records for the first 13 years of its existence, nor the last eight years. Records are available for only 11 years - from 1991 to 2002.

The school once had six teachers who came and left like migratory birds. “Some teachers served here for a day, some for 21 days and a few served here for a year. They all came here on deputation and left very soon. The only teacher who stayed for a long period is D S Narayanaswamy, an assistant master,” said Usha Shetty.

Venkatarama Reddy, Block Education Officer of Malur Taluk admitted that there are few children in the school. “The strength in government schools is less as many parents prefer sending their kids to convent schools,” said Reddy.

But why merely one assistant master? To this question Reddy replied, “This is as per government norms. We can have one teacher for 20 students.”

On Friday, during hearing at the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) the officials of the primary education department were pulled up by the Chief Information Commissioner for giving contradictory information to Usha Shetty  regarding the joining date of Narayanaswamy, the lone teacher of the school.

When this is the scene of a school close to Bangalore, you can guess what would be happening in North Karnataka government schools or schools in remote areas.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 18 May 2010, 17:41 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT