K'taka to form panel to ease school recognition process, govt assures no school will be closed
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Monday announced that a House committee will be set up to simplify the procedures for granting and renewing recognition for private aided and unaided schools. The assurance follows concerns raised in the Legislative Council over the difficulties schools face in meeting various compliance requirements like building safety and land ownership certifications.
According to a Deccan Herald report the School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa told the Council that the panel would be constituted during the ongoing session. He also stated that no institution would encounter any trouble until its recommendations were finalised, and that the number of criteria required for recognition had already been lowered from 62 to 48, while stating that attempts were underway to move the entire process online. He stressed the importance of student safety and stated that the government will not allow corruption among officials involved in the system.
MLCs across party lines highlighted the hardships encountered by schools in complying with the 2018 recognition rules. Congress member Puttanna said students were being forced to appear as external candidates for examinations when their schools struggled to secure timely renewal, alleging that the system had become a breeding ground for corruption. BJP member Shashil Namoshi questioned why building safety norms were being retrospectively applied to private institutions while government schools remained exempt.
Several other members, including S V Sankanur, S L Bhojegowda, Ramoji Gowda, Ramesh Babu, D T Somashekhar and Hemalatha Naik, warned that the current system had pushed many schools to the brink of closure.
Responding to a separate query on reports of government school closures under the proposed Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) model, the minister categorically denied any such plan. He told the House that no government school, including Kannada-medium institutions, would be shut “under any circumstances,” adding that facilities such as mid-day meals would continue even if only one child were enrolled.
Bangarappa said the confusion had been fuelled by misleading posts on social media and reiterated that the government was committed to strengthening public education. He noted that, contrary to rumours, some MLAs from both the ruling and opposition benches had in fact sought mergers of schools with very low enrolment. The minister said the government was ready to keep schools open, and even to start new ones, if there was demand, and questioned objections to children studying on a single campus from LKG to PUC when transportation was already being provided.
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UP govt committed to providing housing to needy: Adityanath
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said the state government would ensure housing for the needy and extend adequate financial assistance for the treatment of those suffering from serious illnesses.
During his visit to Gorakhpur, he heard grievances of people at a ‘Janata Darshan’ programme held at the Gorakhnath Temple.
Addressing the gathering, Adityanath said the government is committed to ensuring that every eligible and needy person benefits from welfare schemes and that all public grievances are resolved effectively.
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He interacted with around 100 people and listened to their complaints individually at the Mahant Digvijaynath Smriti Bhavan premises, an official statement said.
The chief minister directed administrative and police officials to ensure time-bound, fair and satisfactory redressal of issues.
He also instructed the police to take prompt and strict action in matters related to law enforcement.
During the interaction, a woman raised her concern regarding lack of housing, to which the chief minister assured that she would be provided a house under a government scheme.
People seeking financial help for treatment of serious ailments were also assured that lack of funds would not hinder medical care.
Adityanath directed officials to promptly prepare estimates for advanced medical treatment of needy patients and ensure timely assistance.
