BENGALURU: The teachers working with aided high schools in the state are relieved as state department of primary and secondary education has withdrawn the decision to hold their salaries if the performance of SSLC students was lower than their district average in last five years.
Recently, department issued a circular asking Deputy Director of Public Instructions (DDPI) to submit a report on such schools along with names of teachers to withhold their salaries. This decision by the department faced objection from many quarters.
Finally, the department issued a revised circular saying that instead of holding teachers’ salaries, a disciplinary measure will be taken as per Karnataka Cadre and Service Recruitment Rules.
The issue was raised in the Legislative Council on Friday where it has decided to withdraw a government order that imposed several conditions on aided schools, on the grounds that the order was issued hastily without consultation with educational experts.
The decision was made following a calling for attention motion by MLCs Puttanna and S V Sankanura, where they noted that for aided schools to receive funds there was a condition that their performance in SSLC should be better than the district average over the past five years. According to Sankanura, this would result in an unfair evaluation of schools. A school getting 79 per cent results in Dakshina Kannada district, which has an average of more than 80 per cent, may be denied aid but a school in Yadgir district, with an average of 50 per cent, has to score only 51 per cent to receive aid from the State.
Ivan D’Souza of Congress and Srikantegowda of JD(S) also condemned the order. While Ivan D’Souza said that the order was ‘unscientific’, Srikantegowda questioned how the government was expecting results from unaided schools without giving them adequate facilities. “The order has affected the appointment of teachers,” he said. Responding to motion, Legislative Council speaker Basavaraj Horatti suggested that Primary and Secondary Education Minister N Mahesh consult educational experts regarding the order, and said that the order should be withdrawn. The minister agreed that educational experts should have been consulted and promised to review the order.