The teachers of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike-run schools found a supporter in Puttanna, MLC. On Friday, at the BBMP’s “Guruvandana” programme, the MLC lambasted the civic body for making the teachers work under difficult circumstances, overburdening them and not paying them for two months of summer holidays.
He said the BBMP had not recruited teachers for the last 15 years and nearly 80 per cent were outsourced. “Outsourced teachers get just around Rs. 8,000 a month. How can they lead a comfortable life in Bangalore with such a meagre salary?” he said, and added that the salary should be hiked to Rs. 15,000 at least.
Mr. Puttanna also said that with more students opting for professional courses the number of students taking up pure sciences had decreased drastically. “Given the situation, we may find it difficult to get science teachers after five years,” he said.
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Mr. Puttanna said teachers should not be forced to implement government schemes such as providing milk to students, distributing uniforms, bicycles and books. “The quality of education will improve only if the teachers are allowed to discharge their duties without being burdened with other non-academic work, such as caste census and election work,” he said.
City in-charge and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy urged parents to monitor their wards’ education.
On the occasion, 35 meritorious students from BBMP-run institutions who have cleared SSLC and PUC exams by securing more than 80 per cent were awarded. While SSLC students received Rs. 10,000, PUC students received Rs. 35,000. Retired teachers and a few serving teachers were also felicitated. Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayana, BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan and ruling party leader Ashwathnarayana Gowda were present.
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