Karnataka Government to Spend Considerably on Education Sector

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a state budget of Rs. 21,305 crore to be kept aside for the education expenses in the state. Out of total education budget, Rs. 17,425 crore will be used for betterment in primary and secondary education in Karnataka.

Using budget total 11,672 teachers are more to be recruited, of which 9,405 will be for the government primary schools, 1,137 for high schools and 1,130 to teach in PU colleges. Furthermore, the budget also promises to fill the posts of Kannada teachers in minority institutions.

To improve the quality of education in state government schools, an Education Quality Monitoring Cell is also to be built which would incur expenses of Rs. 2 crore.

 To bring 1.7 lakhs out-of-school/dropout children of the state in to the mainstream, the state government has also vouched to start appropriate programmes. For the same, career counselling will also be held for parents as well as children to lower dropout rates after Class 7.

10,000 students of Class IX and Class XI will also be trained in IT, retail, healthcare, beauty and wellness as promised by government. This significant programme will be held in association with the National Skill Development Corporation.

Chief Minister also declared that 178 government high schools will be established in the State and Rs. 3.27 crore has been assigned to help provide basic infrastructure in government PU colleges.

Another noteworthy proposal made by government is to reconstitute the textbook committee after considering the allegations of “saffronisation” of school textbooks which were allegedly introduced at the time of BJP government rule.

Around 100 government primary schools falling in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region is to be upgraded as model primary schools using the assistance from Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Development Board.

In Gram Panchayats roughly 250 libraries are to be set up. Mathematics kits, which were created by Akshara Foundation, will also be doled out to Class 4 and 5 students studying in government schools.