From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Feb 17: As many as 950 private primary and high schools established in Karnataka during the years from 1991 to 1995 will be provided with grant-in-aid by the State Government.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri the decision on extending grant-in-aid to the 950 educational institutions in the State would cost Rs 200 crore per year.

The State Government has already sanctioned grant-in-aid to 1000 schools established prior 1991, he said.

The Finance Department headed by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has agreed in principle to give aid to 950 institutions, he said explaining that the facility would be given after scrutinising all rules, procedures and the number of students enrolled in each school.

All these schools are Kannada medium schools, the minister said.

On an average, six to seven teachers in each school that would get salaries and other benefits from the government. Aid would also be extended to non-teaching staff, he said.

Karnataka Madhyamika Sangha President Balakrishna Bhat, former MLC, welcomed the government’s decision and thanked the Minister for fulfilling the long-pending demand of several school managements.

Office-bearers of the Sangha said that the government has been promising of providing aid to schools for the last three years.

Now, keeping in mind elections to 17 seats of the Legislative Council, the government has announced granting of aid to 950 schools. Elections would also be held in the months of May and June for 17 council seats, including teachers’ constituencies.