Poor SSLC results: Notice issued to headmasters of govt, govt-aided schools in Karnataka
Bengaluru: The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has issued notices to headmasters of government and government-aided schools that recorded a pass percentage below 60% in the 2025 SSLC examinations, seeking explanations for the poor academic performance.
This action follows Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s directive instructing the department to hold Deputy Directors of Public Instruction (DDPIs) accountable for the low pass rates in their respective districts, as reported by Deccan Herald on Friday.
Government-aided schools in the underperforming districts have also come under scrutiny. The DDPI have been asked to compile lists of teachers handling subjects where the pass percentage fell below 60% and recommend withholding their salary increments. Furthermore, if student performance remains unsatisfactory for three consecutive years, the DDPI is empowered to withhold salary grants for those teachers. Aided schools where the pass percentage in SSLC examinations has been under 50 for the for the past five years risk having their grants withheld.
This year, out of 2,00,214 students from 3,583 government-aided schools who appeared for the SSLC examinations, only 1,18,066 (58.97%) managed to clear the exam, the report added. The notice to government school headmasters cited ‘dereliction of duty’ and accused them of failing to adequately guide both students and teachers.
However, H.K. Manjunath, honorary president of the Karnataka Secondary School Assistant Masters’ Association, criticised the department’s approach. He urged the government to focus on improving the quality of education at the primary level. “Teachers must not be tasked with other responsibilities so they can focus on teaching. If they still fail to ensure good results, the department can initiate action against them. The government must also take steps to fill the 16,000 vacant teaching posts in schools, which is impacting results,” DH quoted him as saying.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
