However, Education Minister Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri’s replies to legislators’ questions in the Assembly on Friday revealed a sorry state of affairs in schools in the State.
Students and the teaching faculty in 2,851 schools in Karnataka have no drinking water facility, while 1,306 high schools have no toilets. Drinking water facility and toilets are the basic minimum requirements of a school.
In his written reply to a question raised by Independent MLC Y A Narayanaswamy, Kageri said 2,285 primary and higher primary schools and 566 high schools lack drinking water facility.
The minister said the government would provide drinking water facility for schools through the Karnataka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency. The State government has sent a proposal to the Centre to provide the facility for 318 schools in urban areas.
The minister said the government would provide toilets to schools under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund aided by NABARD in a phased manner. He said many high schools had drinking water facilities and toilets before they were separated from PU colleges. The government has to make separate arrangements for these schools.
Vacancies
Kageri said as many as 3,030 posts of lecturers in pre-university colleges were vacant. The minister said 1,765 posts can be filled through direct recruitment. The Finance Department has given clearance to recruit 1,009 posts of lecturers to teach science and commerce subjects.
Another 887 posts will be filled by promoting high school teachers. As a temporary measure, the colleges have been asked to appoint guest faculty to the vacant posts.