AHINDA ahead: Do we need politics on campus?

Bengaluru: For the last few years, government-run primary and secondary schools in the state have become victims of the ideologies propagated by the parties that have the majority in the State Assembly.

When the BJP was out of power till 2006, it was alleged that schools were propagating leftist, Congress ideology. When the BJP was in power it was alleged that the party was trying to propagate Hindutva through the education system.

Now, questions are being raised over new initiatives launched by the state government. The main allegation is that the new government is pushing the AHINDA (minorities, backward classes and dalits) ideology even in the education sector.

Experts feel that this trend will destroy the inclusive nature of our government schooling system. DC takes a look at the disturbing trend.

Grant problem: Focus AHINDA

School excursions are at the centre of the latest controversy. It started with the auditors objecting to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) grants being spent on school excursion (Chinnara Angala) programmes. The state government then decided to scrap the project.

But now, according to the latest guidelines, AHINDA students alone are eligible for the government grant for school excursions. This means other students are not eligible for government support even if they are poor.

“Those who go to government schools are from economically weaker families. If government doesn’t support the excursion of students belonging to upper castes from poor families, those children will lose the opportunity as their parents cannot bear the expenses. Government should not differentiate between children at least till they reach class X,” says an officer with the education department.

“Most educational schemes are restricted to SC/ST, OBC and minority category students. Students from the general category are not included in any state schemes including scholarships. Further isolation of the students based on caste will force them to leave government schools,” he warned.

Textbooks: In the name of correcting saffronisation 

In the academic year 2014-15 a major controversy over revision of text books is likely, especially social science text books. The state government is planning to remove some parts from the existing social science text books, which were allegedly added by the previous government as part of its alleged Hindutva bias.

According to an officer from DSERT, which oversees text books, several representations have been received objecting to this ideological bias. "Government has promised to look into all these issues and take corrective measures," he said.

Many academicians feel that this ideological confrontation will push students away from state board schools. Nagabhushan L, an academician and counsellor, says these controversies have led to the state board being the least desirable.

"Even in the CBSE schools, social science is losing its sheen because of the controversies. In Bengaluru city, schools affiliated to international boards are becoming more and more popular. Our government is busy settling scores.

If we do not make our state board system free of all the controversies and ensure quality curriculum, in the next few years state schools will witness untimely death in the towns and cities," Nagabhushan said. He said that other state boards have been experimenting and innovating, but in Karna­taka "we are nearly 10 years behind the rest of the boards."

Mid-day meal 

When the BJP government was in power, its decision to introduce egg as part of the mid-day meal led to statewide protests. Caste associations opposed the move saying it will divide classrooms based on food habits. Others supported it saying it is the best way to combat malnourishment in children. With some holy men also joining the anti-egg protest, the government withdrew the notification.

According to sources, eggs may be introduced in the mid-day meal scheme soon as the current government is in favour of it. "We can't deny egg to a majority of students just because a few students won't eat it. But it will definitely affect the inclusive nature of government schools. Students may face problems similar to Urdu schools," said a DPI officer.