Karnataka CM warns private school representatives over state benefits
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar reminded private school managements of government assistance regarding the RTE issue during a meeting.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday addressed private school management representatives during a meeting held under the 'Namma Shaale Namma Javabdari' programme in Bengaluru. According to the Deccan Herald, Shivakumar reminded the representatives of the government's assistance regarding the RTE issue and noted pressure on the state administration to regulate school fees.
The Chief Minister stated that if the government had not intervened to help with the RTE, the financial situation of the schools would be different. He mentioned that there was an agreement for the government to protect the managements in exchange for their support during the implementation of the RTE.
Shivakumar said the government would increase pressure on those receiving free land, power, and water in the state to support government schools in the coming years. He suggested that private schools could provide physical infrastructure or teachers to help empower government schools.
The Chief Minister also requested corporates to spend their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds in the state to empower rural government schools. He alleged that some companies were performing CSR work only for the sake of it and claimed that a majority of the state's annual Rs 7,800 crore CSR fund pool is going to Mumbai.
Regarding government schools, Shivakumar expressed displeasure over teacher quality, noting that despite monthly salaries of Rs 1.5 lakh, only 50 per cent of teachers are committed. He added that there is a shortage of over 40,000 teachers in government schools.
During the event, 15 organisations signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 206.10 crore to upgrade 56 government schools to Karnataka Public Schools (KPS). This brings the total for the year to 33 MoUs covering 89 schools with a value of Rs 291.10 crore.