There will now be an additional Rs. 20 lakh available, besides the Rs. 40 lakh, for each constituency, for infrastructure development work in government schools.
This was stated by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar while speaking to reporters at R.K. Patil Government High School at Bidnal on the outskirts of Hubballi after inaugurating a smart classroom in the school on Saturday.
Admitting that many government schools lack basic amenities, the minister said steps were being taken to improve the situation in a phased manner, and that he had asked lawmakers to come up with a priority list for their constituencies.
ADVERTISEMENT
Conceding that the funds were not adequate, he said, “Each taluk requires at least Rs. 8 crore to Rs. 10 crore. The state government is trying to address the issue in a phased manner,” he said. The minister said the Right To Education (RTE) quota had resulted in nearly 3 lakh children joining private schools, resulting in a drop in the number of admissions in government schools.
On yoga day celebrations, he said, “I will attend the programme, but will not do yoga as I have not learnt it.”
Chairman of Karnataka State Forest Industries Corporation Limited T. Ishwar said the department plans to take around 25,000 schoolchildren for a visit to the nearby forest areas. “Class VIII and IX students will be taken on a three-day trip and the government will bear all the expenses,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hubballi Dharwad East MLA Prasad Abbayya, Additional Commissioner of Department of Public Instruction Veeranna Tuaramuri were present. The Minister spent some time with students interacting with them and also asking them general knowledge questions.