The Education Department has planned an extravagant celebration for this year’s Kannada Rajyotsava with nearly 8,000 schoolchildren from across the state coming together to showcase the culture and traditions of Karnataka.
Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Rathnakar told reporters here on Wednesday that the government has set aside `75 lakh for this year’s celebrations, double of what is spent usually.
“So far, the celebrations were centred in Bangalore. This year, children from Mysore, Gulbarga and Belgaum will travel to Bangalore to participate and perform cultural programmes,” he said.
As many as 1,500 high school children will participate in the programme that will be held at Kanteerava Stadium on November 1. While only high school students will participate from other centres, both primary and secondary school students schools in Bangalore will be part of the festivities, the minister said.
On the sidelines, Rathnakar said 1,684 pre-university lecturers who have not completed their BEd will be given time to complete the course.
“Funds to the tune of `10 crore will be required to pay salaries to the lecturers while they complete their BEd but it has now been set aside to pay guest lecturers who will fill these positions in the meantime. These lecturers have a year’s time to complete their course,” he added.