‘Makkala Mane’ likely to get a boost

With the increasing demand for government-run pre-primary schools, the initiative called ‘Makkala Mane’ — a joint programme by the Education Department and Department of Women and Child Development — is gaining importance in the district.

Including the Karnataka State Primary School Teachers’ Association, many have demanded for more State-run pre-primary schools to check closure of government schools due to dip in admissions.

According to a senior official in the Education Department, the government plans to introduce 200 pre-primary schools (named as Chilipili Centres) in each district from 2015–16. While the department has not yet taken a decision, the teachers’ association said it will be a good step towards strengthening government primary schools.

Basavaraj Gurikar, president of the teachers’ association, said on Saturday that private schools attract children at the pre-primary level. Once they are admitted to LKG, they continue their education there itself. “But, government schools do not have that system. We were hoping that the Chief Minister will announce pre-primary schools in the budget,” he said.

86 centres

In the 2012–13 academic year, Hassan district had 86 pre-primary schools (Makkala Mane centres) and anganwadi workers were involved in the programme. A total of 2,860 children were enrolled in these centres. The Women and Child Development department provided food for these children as it is their responsibility to take care of those aged below six.

M.S. Phanish, Deputy Coordinator of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyana, told The Hindu on Sunday that the government had supported the programme by providing Rs. 10,000 for each school. But the government did not continue the financial support, which resulted in the School Development and Monitoring Committees losing interest in continuing the centres.

“At present, only a few committees have retained the centres with the help of parents and philanthropists.

Centres at Banavara in Arsikere taluk, Nittur in Hassan taluk and K. Hoskote in Alur taluk and some other places, are running the centres,” he said. The monitoring committees have the liberty to start pre-primary schools by hiring private staff in government schools. However, they require public support and financial help, the officer said.