Blurb
An Unaided Schools Association has demanded salary grant assurance for post-1995 Kannada medium institutions, warning of protest against the education minister on June 5.
CH NEWS
Shivamogga
The Karnataka State Association of Aided and Unaided School and College Managements and Employees Union has warned that it will stage a protest by laying siege to Education Minister S. Madhu Bangarappa’s residence on June 5, demanding salary grant assurance for Kannada medium schools and colleges started after 1995, along with other guarantee schemes.
Speaking at a press conference, state president T.C. Shivappa said that although Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Education Minister S. Madhu Bangarappa often speak about protecting the Kannada language, their statements remain only in words and not in action. He alleged that the government lacks genuine commitment to the survival of Kannada medium institutions.
He said Kannada medium schools and colleges started after 1995 are currently in a distressed condition, and despite assurances made in the state budget, no concrete steps have been taken to provide financial support. He accused the education minister of repeatedly giving assurances but failing to implement them.
Shivappa further criticized the government for shifting responsibility and suggested that instead of delaying the issue, it should openly admit if it cannot provide grants to Kannada medium schools while simultaneously promoting English medium institutions.
He also questioned the relevance of involving literary figures in the issue of grant approval and accused the government of misleading the public with inconsistent data. He cited earlier estimates suggesting that extending salary grants would cost around ₹150 crore, while another official response indicated an annual requirement of ₹147.52 crore for thousands of teachers across primary and high schools.
He said previous discussions in the legislative assembly had also raised the issue, but no political will has been shown to implement the proposals. Union members present at the press conference supported the demand and reiterated the call for immediate action to safeguard Kannada medium educational institutions.
BOX
In the session held in July 2024, Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa gave a written reply to a question raised by MLA Puttanna. He stated that during the period 1995–2000, there were 386 unaided secondary schools with 3,088 employees, and 151 pre-university colleges with 2,468 employees. He added that if these institutions were brought under the grant-in-aid system, it would cost the government ₹334.98 lakh. He also said that there is no proposal before the government to extend grant-in-aid to them. He further alleged that Speaker Basavaraj Horatti, who has been elected multiple times from the teachers’ constituency and has served as an MLA, Education Minister, and is now the Speaker, has still “betrayed” them.
-Santosh, union office bearer