Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Oct 4: The government wants to bring in changes in education sector and a programme is envisaged to establish schools with public private partnership to compete and maintain standards similar to the ones being followed by private schools in village level, said minister of education, Kimmane Ratnakar.

He was speaking after inaugurating a conference of primary and high school teachers held at Karanth Theme park on October 3, by Kotathattu Grama panchayat Kota, Kannada and cultural department, Dr Shivaram Karanth Trust and Dr Shivaram Karanth Huttoora Prashasthi Prathistana as a part of birth anniversary celebrations of Dr Shivaram Karanth by Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Udupi.

"The government has come forward to make changes in teacher’s retirement. As it is difficult to replace teachers if they retire in between academic year, such teachers should be retained till the end of academic year. Transfer processes should be done in April and May. As there are changes in transfer policies, teachers from outside the districts can be brought in," he said.

"There are 24,000 vacancies of teachers in the state; 12,000 guest teachers will be recruited on a temporary basis. Half the required number of teachers in a district will be recruited now. Teachers have the responsibility of channelising the minds of children towards studies and make them grow," he said. He suggested the teachers to inculcate reading habits among children.

Headmaster of S P School of Waderahobali, Y S Haragi presided over the conference. Deputy director of instruction, Nagendra Madhyastha and Udupi Taluk panchayat executive officer D Manjunathayya were the chief guests. Udupi Taluk Kannada Sahithya Parishat president Upendra Somayaji, Kundapur Karnataka Sahitya parishat president Narayana Kharvi, district Kannada sahitya parishat treasurer Subrahmanya Basri, Karanth Prathistan executive officer Ananda C Kunder, Prathistan member Vittal V Gaonkar, district primary school teachers association president Shashidhar Shetty were present.

Kotathattu gram panchayat president Shobha presided over the programme. Former minister Vidhana Parishat member Srinivas Poojary gave a key note address. Karnataka Sahitya parishat Nilavara Surendra Adiga spoke. All India Education board member Arroru Thimmappa Shetty explained the problems faced by Kannada medium schools. Resource person Uday Gaonkar spoke about problems faced by continuous evaluation. Government employees association Kundapur president Dinakar Shetty, Teachers Malathi Ajekar, Shantaraj Shetty and Ratnavati expressed their views. The minister was felicitated on the occasion.

Teachers do not want awards but please give their dues in time. Every school should have a care taker. Transfers should be done without any need to pay bribe. Let uniform education system come into existence, these were some of the demands of the teachers.

Karnataka Sahitya parishat secretary Rangappayya Holla welcomed. Satish Waddarse conducted the programme. Narayan Madi thanked.