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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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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