The Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has decided to write to the State government expressing its concerns over the new rule according to which only one teacher can be posted in government primary schools where student strength is 10 and below. Such a rule will bring down the quality of education in these schools, the panchayat said.
Raising the issue at a meeting here on Tuesday, president of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, Meenakshi Shantigodu, said that it would be difficult for one teacher to handle science, mathematics and other subjects from Classes 1 to 5. “You cannot expect quality education from one teacher. Students will have to suffer ultimately,” she said.
Ms. Shantigodu said that there was a lot of resistance from parents and members of school development and monitoring committees in relieving additional teachers as they don’t want to lose quality teachers.
Duty bound
Deputy Director of Public Instruction Walter D’Mello said that they were bound to implement the government circular. Two teachers could be posted in schools where the number of students was between 11 and 60.
Mr. D’Mello said that there were 25 government higher primary schools in Dakshina Kannada where student strength was 10 or below. If there were more than one teacher in such schools, the additional teacher was being posted to schools who were in need of teachers.
“Yes, the new rule does cause hardship for a single teacher in conducting classes and managing other tasks. But we cannot do anything than follow the directions.” Mr. D’Mello said this will affect the teaching of science, mathematics and other subjects.
Zilla panchayat chief executive officer P.I. Sreevidya said a letter would be written to the State government explaining the problems that would be caused because of the new rule.
Meanwhile, Ms. Sreevidya asked Mr. D’Mello to make a list of subject experts who would conduct classes on designated days in each of these schools.
“We have tried this for preparing Class 10 students last year. We will follow it for primary school students too,” she said.
