Karnataka Budget: English proposed as one of the languages in government run schools.
The government has also proposed starting 176 consolidated schools offering education upto class XII ine gram panchayat headquarters.
Bengaluru: The state budget has proposed introducing English as one of the languages in government-run schools from class I onwards to make them more relevant and to stem off competition from aided private schools offering English medium of education that are often preferred by parents today.
Going by officials of the state education department, a decision on this was first taken in 2006 when state Janata Dal(S) chief, H D Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister and was implemented in several schools.
The government has also proposed starting 176 consolidated schools offering education upto class XII ine gram panchayat headquarters, introducing computer education in an additional 1,000 high schools and pre- university colleges, and comprehensive improvement in holding of SSLC and PUC examinations with the aid of Information Technology.
It has proposed introduction of revised textbooks for classes I to X and and NCERT textbooks for select subjects between classes IX and XII. Other proposals include distribution of chudidar-kameez uniforms for girls in classes VIII to X, distribution of shoes and socks, story books with a social message for school libraries, free spectacles and five-day milk programme for students.
With teacher absenteeism being a huge problem in its schools, the government has decided to introduce a biometric attendance system for them.
In addition, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the appointment of 10,000 graduate teachers, 1,626 high school teachers and 1,191 PU lecturers in government- run institutions.