Karnataka Budget 2019: Facelift for govt school facilities

BENGALURU: Taking lessons from widespread criticism and repeated demands from across stakeholders, the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led  government has focused on improving and modernising infrastructure for education, and provide better teacher training facilities in government schools.

As per the Budget presentation made on Friday, as many as 5,000 classrooms in government schools will see an upgrade in the 2019-20 fiscal. While the state government has announced budgetary allocations for the construction of 1,500 new classrooms, 1,000 schools will get new learning equipment.

“Over one lakh teachers will be offered a 10-day comprehensive training programme under ‘Guruchetana’ scheme. To build transparency in school administration, management committees constituted under the Right to Education (RTE) Act will be given additional responsibilities. The primary and secondary education department will also prepare a ‘Block-level report card’ for schools, while parent-teacher meetings will be held to enhance the overall performance of schools,” Chief Minister Kumaraswamy said.

Further, individual attention will be given to children to reduce dropout rates. The move to establish 1,000 Karnataka Public Schools in Hobli headquarters, an announcement which was made in the earlier version of the Budget, will continue the next fiscal as well.

Vocational training for puc students
Rs 2 cr to set up Language Skill Training Centres in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Belagavi and Kalaburagi divisions to improve language teaching methods

Rs 2 crore to impart vocational training in chosen subjects to PUC students
‘Spardha Kali’ scheme to bring out and to enhance hidden talent in government high school students

Rs 1.5 crore for awarding 'Prathibha Puraskara' grants to 20 top students scoring district-level highest marks in National Talent Search Examination.

Rs 1 crore for digitisation of S.S.L.C evaluation centres.

Rs 2 crore to impart vocational training in chosen subjects to PUC students.

Combined Entrance Test to be conducted online
In a bid to cope with global advancements in the field of higher education, the budgetary allocations have been made to adopt new technology, business models and easy access to information. The Budget stressed that next generation learning methods will be put in place at Bengaluru Central University. A total grant of Rs 2 crore will be allocated towards implementation of a system to distribute Aadhaar-based digital marks card and degree certificates online to students and its validation.

The Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the Karnataka Examination Development Authority will be made online and funds for it will be transferred to the department concerned in the upcoming fiscal.

VTU to be bifurcated
VTU will be bifurcated as new varsity will be established in Hassan.

Vocational training centres will be opened at all first grade colleges and varsities to impart job-oriented education.

Teachers will receive training in their respective subjects to improve quality of higher education in the next 3 years.

Rs 10 crore allocated to provide laboratories/workshop facilities in government engineering colleges and polytechnic institutes.