Pupil teacher ratio at 1:50 in high schools

But experts say this can be implemented only if more teachers are hired

The State government has decided to reduce the pupil-to-teacher ratio in all high schools from the existing 1:70 to 1:50. The decision follows meetings between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and MLCs from the teacher and graduate constituencies, who were on strike in September.

However, elected representatives and experts say this is just “eyewash” as the government does not plan to put this into practice in the classrooms.

Arun Shahpur, MLC, said though the government had agreed to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio to 1:50 “the same order issued by the government states that they will not provide a teacher for every 50 students. How is this going to work? This serves no purpose and we want the government to immediately redo the order”.

While the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, stipulates pupil-teacher ratio in elementary classes, the ratio continues to be high from class 8 onwards.

A high school teacher in a government school said although an additional section could be carved out if there are more than 25 teachers, the government is not hiring or granting aid for aided schools for the additional sections.

“If the State government revises the pupil-teacher ratio, it needs to ensure that it is implemented by hiring additional teachers,” she said.