Education performance index shows 13-mark fall in Karnataka's score
Bengaluru: The state is experiencing a fall in the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 released by the Ministry of Education, losing marks in the 'learning outcomes and quality' domain.
While the state had scored 562 marks out of 1,000 in 2022-23 academic year, it has received only 549 in 2023-24, a reduction of 13 marks, according to a report by Deccan Herald.
Up to 73 different parameters are taken into consideration while calculating the overall score, majorly in the six domains of 'Learning outcomes and quality'; 'Access'; 'Infrastructure and facilities'; 'Equity'; 'Governance process' and 'Teacher education and training'.
The Union government had given 10 grades, based on the scores of various states. Based on the state's performance in all categories, it had received a score of 21-30 per cent and was placed in the grade 'Akanshi-1'.
While more than 14 other states also received the grade, the lowest grade is 'Akanshi-3' for a score up to 10% between 401 and 460.
The PIG report analyses 'Learning outcomes and quality' taking into consideration the performance of students in language, mathematics, social science and science in Classes 3, 5 and 8. Karnataka has reportedly shown no improvement in the domain, with its score standing at 59.4 out of 240 in 2022-23 as well as 2023-24, in spite of new programmes implemented by the government.
There has been an improvement of about 12 marks in 'Access', rising from 63.8 in 2022-23 to 67.7 in 2023-24.
Experts have opined that the government has been focusing on improving the infrastructure by relying on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and neglecting issues related to quality of education.
The PGI 2.0 is aligned with the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) Plus. The PGI structure comprises a total of 1,000 points across 73 indicators grouped under outcome and governance management categories. These categories are further divided into six domains. The score of each indicator is arrived at by multiplying proportionate score of the indicator with weightage of that indicator. The lowest grade is called Akanshi-3.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sabarimala gold issue: UDF alleges CM's office interference, disrupts Assembly
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Alleging interference by the Chief Minister’s office in the SIT probe into the Sabarimala gold loss cases, the Congress-led UDF opposition disrupted Assembly proceedings on Tuesday, declaring that it would no longer cooperate with the House.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, informed Speaker A N Shamseer about the UDF's decision as the House proceedings commenced.
As the opposition protest continued in the House amidst the question hour, Congress MLA Anwar Sadath suddenly attempted to climb onto the Speaker's dais, leading to Shamseer stopping the assembly for around half-an-hour and leaving for his chambers.
Subsequently, when he returned at around 10 am, state Law Minister P Rajeev submitted in the House that the opposition was trying to subvert a proper probe into the Sabarimala gold case.
As the minister began speaking, the opposition started shouting and re-started its protest.
Rajeev alleged that it was the opposition which brought prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty into the picture to subvert the Global Ayyappa Sangam organised by the government.
"It is the opposition which knows who stole the gold from the shrine," he contended.
Dramatic scenes were witnessed in the House, after Shamseer said it was not right that some UDF MLAs tried to climb onto the Speaker's dais, as Sadath again tried to do the same and was pushed back by the watch-and-ward personnel of the assembly.
Subsequently, the watch-and-ward staff also forcibly pulled away the banner held up by the opposition MLAs in front of the dais.
Following the action by the watch-and-ward staff, more UDF MLAs tried to climb onto the dais, forcing the Speaker to again briefly adjourn the House as the ruling front legislators laughed at the actions of the opposition.
At 9 am when the House began, Satheesan alleged that the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was not going anywhere and conditions were being created for more of the arrested accused in the two Sabarimala gold loss cases to come out on statutory bail.
He said that soon prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty and three CPI(M) leaders, also arrested in the case, would be out on statutory bail.
"All this is happening due to the pressure and interference from the Chief Minister's Office. So, we would like to inform you (Speaker) that we are intensifying our protest by bringing it into the House and we are not going to cooperate with the assembly proceedings," the opposition leader said.
Opposition MLAs trooped into the well of the House and held up placards -- some of which claimed CPI(M) was protecting those accused in the two cases and that the Left party leaders stole Lord Ayyappa's gold -- in front of the Speaker's dais, shouting slogans against the government.
The question hour of the House, subsequently, proceeded amidst the opposition protest.
Responding to the opposition protest, state Health Minister Veena George said that not cooperating with the House proceedings shows the irresponsibility of the UDF.
The opposition intensified its protest a day after a vigilance court on Monday granted statutory bail to former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) executive officer D Sudheesh Kumar in two cases related to the loss of gold from the Sabarimala temple.
Former TDB administrative officers B Murari Babu and S Sreekumar are already out on statutory bail in the matter.
Sreekumar has not been made an accused in the second case involving the loss of gold from the doorframes of Sreekovil.
Potty has got statutory bail in one of the cases and once he gets the same relief in the other, he too will come out of jail.
The cases relate to the alleged loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idol plates and from the gold cladding on the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).
The SIT has made 12 arrests in the matter till date.
