From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, May 20: The focus of the new Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar, who assumed charge and occupied his ministerial chambers in Vidhana Soudha on Monday, will be to provide all the necessary basic amenities like separate toilets for boys and girls, library, electricity, playground and drinking water facilties to students and staff of the schools.

Ratnakar, who has been given independent charge of the key portfolio, offered pooja at the office in the State secretariat in the presence of his well-wishers and officials.

Saffronisation of education would not be allowed and steps would be taken to address issues such as shortage of teachers and inadequate facilities in schools, he said and promised to review all the decisions on the previous government.

Reforms would be introduced to enhance the quality of primary and secondary education, the Minister said and said he would seek suggestions from his predecessors and educational experts to ensure transparency in the administration.

Ratnakar said he would hold meetings with officials of the department to take stock of the issues that affecting the primary and secondary education.

A good number of high schools and elementary schools in the State have been deprived of eight basic amenities.

Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has made mandatory provision of eight basic facilities in schools and they are boys’ toilets, girls’ toilets, electricity, playground, ramps, library, compound wall and drinking water.

According to District Information System for Education (DISE) data of 2011-12, nearly 25 per cent of high schools do not have playgrounds. Eleven per cent and 6.99 per cent of high schools do not have toilets for boys and girls, respectively.

The Supreme Court has directed all States and Union Territories to ensure that basic toilet facilities, in particular to girl students, in all schools.