Karnataka schools conducting physical classes for Class 1 to 5 under lens

Several private schools across the state have been accused of commencing offline classes for Class 1 to 5, though the state government has not granted permission for the same, considering the pandemic situation.

Both the Primary and Secondary Education Department and Health and Family Welfare Department have received complaints from parents and the public against such schools. And as per the complaints, some schools have started physical classes for primary schools from January 2021 itself, when the government allowed it for Class 10 and 12.

Raising the issue and expressing concern over the same, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar requested Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar to look into the issue and initiate stringent action against such school managements.

In a Tweet, Sudhakar said, “It has been noticed that some of the private schools are conducting offline classes even for grades 1 to 6 though there is no permission from the government. We have received complaints too. I request the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education to initiate stringent action, including disaffiliating such schools for violating the norms.”

According to official sources from the Department of Public Instruction, in some cases, even parents are willing to send children to schools. “In rural areas, schools are functioning with the consent of parents. The working class, labour class are demanding to reopen schools,” said a source from the department.

Responding to a Tweet by minister Sudhakar, many parents/public said that the schools are open in most places.

Reacting to it, D Shashi Kumar, general secretary of Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka, said, “Even we have brought it to the notice of the department. Technically speaking, when the state government itself is running Anganwadis, why the restriction to start grades 1 to 5. We once again request the government to consider reopening all grades and let the parents decide whether they want to send their children or not.”

Presently, the state government has granted permission to conduct offline classes for grade 6 and above, across the state, except Bengaluru Urban and districts bordering Karnataka and Kerala. At these districts, only class 8 and above is allowed.

Minister for Primary and Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar said, “The Health Minister has discussed the issue with me. Even this has come to the notice of the Department of Public Instruction and the deputy directors at the district-level have been directed to initiate action against such schools which are conducting classes by violating government norms. There is no provision for anyone to take decisions, by overtaking the decision taken by the government, in the interest of the children.”