<p class="bodytext">The suspension of Veeranna Madiwalar, headmaster of the Government Lower Primary School in Nidagundi, Belagavi district, for demanding basic infrastructure for his students, is a glaring example of administrative high-handedness. Madiwalar had undertaken a silent protest march from his school to the Block Education Officer (BEO)’s office demanding facilities on par with private institutions. The school has 150 students from classes one to seven, but only two classrooms and a single permanent teacher – himself. The BEO’s notice branding Madiwalar’s conduct as “uncivilised” and an embarrassment to the government misses the point entirely. When a lone teacher is responsible for seven classes without adequate space or support, is it not the education department that should be embarrassed?</p>.Taluk headmaster suspended for protesting more classrooms for school in Belagavi.<p class="bodytext">The incident has rightly drawn the attention of littérateurs and child rights activists. S G Siddaramaiah, former chairman of the Karnataka Book Authority, has suggested suspending Kannada Sahithya Sammelana for a few years and diverting its Rs 20-30 crore annual budget to build school infrastructure. Shashidar Kosambe, a member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, called for the immediate reinstatement of Madiwalar and approval for four new classrooms. The recent SSLC results – 62% overall pass percentage and less than 50% in government schools – highlight the systemic challenges in the state’s public education system. A critical factor is the shortage of teachers, with the government recently announcing that it would fill over 50,000 vacancies with temporary staff as a stopgap arrangement. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already chastised deputy commissioners for the sluggish pace of classroom construction despite ample funds released under the Viveka scheme. This also exposes the dereliction of duty of local MLAs who have failed to prioritise school development. The government has announced various schemes for improving learning outcomes, but their failure to yield the desired results demands a critical evaluation and correction.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Let Madiwalar’s protest be a wake-up call; punishing a dedicated teacher for demanding better facilities is unjust. The government should immediately reinstate him. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa should address the issues plaguing his department, adversely affecting lakhs of students from marginalised communities. Appointment of permanent teachers and robust infrastructure must be prioritised. Furthermore, a thorough audit of all government schools is necessary. Government schools are crucial for uplifting the most vulnerable sections of society. Quality education for the poor is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right. The government must ensure that this right is upheld.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The suspension of Veeranna Madiwalar, headmaster of the Government Lower Primary School in Nidagundi, Belagavi district, for demanding basic infrastructure for his students, is a glaring example of administrative high-handedness. Madiwalar had undertaken a silent protest march from his school to the Block Education Officer (BEO)’s office demanding facilities on par with private institutions. The school has 150 students from classes one to seven, but only two classrooms and a single permanent teacher – himself. The BEO’s notice branding Madiwalar’s conduct as “uncivilised” and an embarrassment to the government misses the point entirely. When a lone teacher is responsible for seven classes without adequate space or support, is it not the education department that should be embarrassed?</p>.Taluk headmaster suspended for protesting more classrooms for school in Belagavi.<p class="bodytext">The incident has rightly drawn the attention of littérateurs and child rights activists. S G Siddaramaiah, former chairman of the Karnataka Book Authority, has suggested suspending Kannada Sahithya Sammelana for a few years and diverting its Rs 20-30 crore annual budget to build school infrastructure. Shashidar Kosambe, a member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, called for the immediate reinstatement of Madiwalar and approval for four new classrooms. The recent SSLC results – 62% overall pass percentage and less than 50% in government schools – highlight the systemic challenges in the state’s public education system. A critical factor is the shortage of teachers, with the government recently announcing that it would fill over 50,000 vacancies with temporary staff as a stopgap arrangement. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already chastised deputy commissioners for the sluggish pace of classroom construction despite ample funds released under the Viveka scheme. This also exposes the dereliction of duty of local MLAs who have failed to prioritise school development. The government has announced various schemes for improving learning outcomes, but their failure to yield the desired results demands a critical evaluation and correction.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Let Madiwalar’s protest be a wake-up call; punishing a dedicated teacher for demanding better facilities is unjust. The government should immediately reinstate him. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa should address the issues plaguing his department, adversely affecting lakhs of students from marginalised communities. Appointment of permanent teachers and robust infrastructure must be prioritised. Furthermore, a thorough audit of all government schools is necessary. Government schools are crucial for uplifting the most vulnerable sections of society. Quality education for the poor is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right. The government must ensure that this right is upheld.</p>
