Improving quality of education and learning outcomes among students rather than infrastructure is the thrust of the budget for the Primary and Secondary Education sector.
Though Rs. 17,373 crore has been allocated this year (up by Rs. 1,169 crore from previous year), the focus on this sector has been dwindling. The allocation it still 6 per cent less than what it was two years ago.
The government has promised that an IT system will be put in place to monitor learning achievement of government school students and those admitted under RTE quota.
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Students struggling with the syllabus will be given supplementary teaching during vacations. Digital literacy in high schools is likely to bear fruit.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government will partner with non-profit organisations to improve the quality of education and bear 50 per cent of the cost over a three-year period.
The Nali Kali system will be reorganised.
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A three-year action plan will be formulated to bring secondary and PU education under a single administration.
The budget also promises to streamline and bring transparency to various services, making it easier for private schools. Some of the services that will be brought under Sakala, or will go online, include registration and renewal of recognition of schools and colleges, issuing minority certificates to educational institutions, RTE reimbursements to private schools and permissions to start CBSE or ICSE schools.