Full day classes for 9,10, PUC students from Feb 1 in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Jan 28: The Karnataka government has decided to hold full-day classes for students of class 9, 10, and first and second year Pre-University across the state from February 1, Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said on Thursday.
The decision was taken in consultation with the state Technical Advisory Committee for COVID-19, keeping in mind the health and educational future of the students, based on the experience we have gained so far.
"We held a discussion with the Health Minister (K Sudhakar) and COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee members... at the meeting it was decided to start full day classes for class 9, 10, first and second year PUC (class 11 and 12) students from February 1," Suresh Kumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, the Vidyagama programme, which enables continued schooling for students from classes six to eight, will continue as it is.
A decision on starting classes for the other students would be taken after observing the present set up till the second week of next month, he added.
The schools and PUC colleges were shut due to COVID-19 pandemic since early last year.
The government had reopened them for class 10 and second year PUC (class 12) students, along with Vidyagama programme for students from standards six to nine, from January 1 with the schools functioning for half day.
The department has said offline or online classes will continue as per choice of students and parents, and the attendance was not compulsory.
Kumar said they noticed interest among students in learning and they were preferring regular classes. Also, there had been demand from parents and School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) to have continued classes.
On an average 75 per cent attendance had been reported in second PUC classes, while it was 70 per cent in class 10, he said, adding Vidyagama classes recorded 45 per cent attendance.
Classes were being held as per the standing operating procedure that was prescribed by the technical advisory committee and so far there has been no reports of large scale infection among students and teachers.
The Minister also announced that the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations for the year would be held from June 14 to 25.
First Language exam on June 14,
Mathematics on June 16
English or Second Language on June 18
Science on June 21
Third Language on June 23
Social Science on June 25 reported Deccan Herald.
The date sheet for the same has not been released on the official site yet.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
