CM Siddaramaiah warns against exploitation of girl children in schools

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday expressed shock over increasing incidents of sexual assault on girl students in schools and warned stern action against the guilty.

Speaking at the state-level Teachers Day celebration here, he said, “A few teachers are found involved in sexually assaulting girl students. These few men have brought disrepute to the teaching community. The government is committed to make schools safe for girl children,”

Recalling his student life, Mr Siddaramaiah said that he started smoking because of a few teachers. “They used to send me to buy cigarettes. Over time, I also started smoking.”

He said, “Our teacher Ningegowda gave me early education, while Mr Rajappa admitted me directly to fifth standard. I owe a lot to him. I could not have become an advocate or a chief minister if not for him,” he said.

He also stressed on the need for quality English education in government schools. “Former President late Abdul Kalam, scientist Prof C.N.R. Rao and many others studied in their mother tongue and succeeded. But today, parents want to send their children only to English medium schools. Government school teachers should take this as a challenge,” he said.