Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Sep 13: The state government is considering a proposal to extend the state-level ‘Best Teacher’ award to eligible teachers working in private schools, School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said on Saturday.

He was speaking at the talent award, sixth anniversary and Teachers’ Day programme organised by the Anekal taluk unaided schools’ association at St Philomena’s Institution in Attibele.

Madhu Bangarappa said there had also been a demand to provide health insurance facilities to private school teachers. The proposal would be discussed with the Finance Department and placed before the Cabinet for consideration and early implementation, he said.

Addressing the issues faced by private schools in renewing recognition, the minister said several technical difficulties, including obtaining no-objection certificates from various departments, had been reported. A committee headed by Legislative Council member Puttanna had studied several demands concerning private schools and made recommendations, which would be examined and implemented appropriately, he said.

The minister also said technical issues had arisen in the SATS software used by government, aided and unaided schools due to inadequate financial support from the Finance Department for its development. Steps would be taken to rectify the shortcomings in the software at the earliest, he added.

On the demand to change school timings in view of traffic congestion in Bengaluru, Madhu Bangarappa said the government would hold discussions with parents, teachers and the concerned departments before taking a decision. School managements would also be asked to consider traffic conditions in their respective areas and seek the views of teachers, parents, police and traffic police before deciding on suitable timings, he said.

He further said the government was examining a demand to provide government textbooks to private schools. Private schools had expressed their willingness to bear the required cost, and the matter was under consideration, he added.

The minister said a recommendation had also been made regarding the demand to extend house rent allowance provided to government employees to teachers of government and aided schools in Bengaluru Rural district.

Recalling the ‘Akshaya’ programme introduced during the tenure of his father and former chief minister S Bangarappa, Madhu Bangarappa said the initiative aimed to strengthen government schools and improve student attendance. Under the scheme, children who attended government schools regularly were provided an incentive of Rs 1 per day.

He said more than one crore children come under the jurisdiction of the Education Department and efforts were being made to bring improvements to the state’s education system.

Legislative Council member Puttanna said Madhu Bangarappa had introduced several changes in the education sector and that improvements had also been witnessed in students’ academic results.