Decision on reopening schools after more consultations: Minister

No choice has been taken with regard to both re-opening of schools within the State or re-starting the Vidyagama scheme, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education S. Suresh Kumar mentioned right here at this time.

He instructed reporters after a gathering with officers of the Education Department that the assembly mentioned intimately the problem of re-opening of schools and had collated info from different States.

Schools have already re-opened in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and in line with information stories, 57 lecturers and round six college students have examined constructive for COVID-19.

Mr. Suresh Kumar mentioned the Commissioner of Public Instructions would maintain consultations with officers from Departments of Social Welfare and Health, and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, aside from representatives of School Development Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) from all taluks within the State. The Commissioner would additionally seek the advice of departments involved with regard to Morarji Desai residential schools, Kittur Chennamma schools and Ashrama schools within the State.

The officers would use the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) community to seek the advice of with representatives from at the least two SDMCs in all taluks. “We cannot go lower than the taluk level for consultations,” he mentioned.

After the three-day consultations that may finish on Friday, the Commissioner would submit a report, he mentioned and added that senior officers had already met with the assorted Deputy Directors of Public Instruction (DDPI) and Block Education Officers (BEOs). “We have also consulted the school teachers’ associations.”

“Today, representatives of private schools in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Hassan and Kodagu, including ICSE and CBSE, are meeting to discuss re-opening of schools. We will take into account their opinion as well.”

After the consultations, Mr. Suresh Kumar mentioned he would submit a remaining report back to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and clarify the state of affairs, following which a remaining choice can be introduced. This, he mentioned, would take round 4 to 5 days.

Vidyagama scheme

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 within the State, the schools have remained shut and plenty of have been providing on-line schooling to their college students. The State authorities launched Vidyagama scheme, a steady studying programme for college kids of presidency schools. However, it was suspended amidst worry of unfold of the pandemic.

To a query on studying in authorities schools, following the suspension of Vidyagama, the Minister mentioned that lecturers of presidency schools, inside their very own limits, had been making use of Whatsapp and Youtube to impart classes to college students. “In the previous academic year, lessons for students of Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination were telecast on DD Chandana. This year, lessons for classes 8, 9, 10 are being telecast on the channel. By December, one round of teaching of all lessons is likely to be completed,” he mentioned.

For lessons 1 to 7, the division had approached Akashvani and floated a young for personal channels. The choice on the tender can be taken in per week’s time.

On schools broken in flood-hit districts within the State, Mr. Suresh Kumar mentioned the division had sought a report from the BEOs on the situation of schools, extent of injury, variety of schools utterly broken, these needing renovation/restore and the estimated price of the identical.

Transfers

The assembly with senior officers additionally mentioned transfers. The lecturers’ transfers had been postpone as a result of numerous causes, together with election code of conduct. He mentioned as soon as the code of conduct ends, the division would talk about with the Election Commission and announce the date for the switch course of.

He additionally mentioned the division had determined to first take up promotion and switch for posts of principals and switch of Pre-University lecturers.