SIO Karnataka delegation flags RTE violations in KPS ‘Magnet’ school merger
Bengaluru: A delegation from the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) Karnataka visited KPS Honganuru and several other government schools to assess the ground realities surrounding the controversial KPS “Magnet” school merger policy.
During interactions with local teachers and school authorities, the delegation noted widespread outrage over the closure of neighbourhood schools and their proposed merger into select KPS institutions. Teachers expressed concern that the move would adversely affect access to education, particularly for children from marginalised communities.
SIO Karnataka stated that the closure of neighbourhood schools directly violates the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Citing Section 6 of the Act, the organisation emphasised that the government is legally bound to establish schools within walking distance of every child’s residence, a requirement undermined by the merger order.
The delegation also shared findings from a recent SIO-conducted survey with school authorities, highlighting several critical issues affecting government schools, including infrastructure gaps and accessibility concerns.
Reiterating its earlier opposition, SIO Karnataka condemned the closure of neighbourhood schools and urged the government to immediately withdraw the merger order.
The delegation comprised Mohammed Hayyan, State Secretary, SIO Karnataka; Abubakkar Siddiq, State Secretary, SIO Karnataka; and Mohammed Peer Latageri, ZAC Member, SIO Karnataka.
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Everyone should have faith in Shubman, he will win games at World T20: Abhishek
Dharamsala (PTI): Having played alongside Shubman Gill since the age of 12, Abhishek Sharma knows that it is just a matter of time before his currently off-colour best buddy starts winning T20I matches for India, including games in the upcoming T20 World Cup next year.
Gill's selection in the Indian T20I playing eleven has been questioned after a settled Sanju Samson was benched. The vice-captain in the format has managed only 291 runs in 15 innings at a strike-rate of 137.3.
He struck only four sixes in those games and on Sunday against South Africa in the third T20I here, Gill scored a painstaking run-a-ball 28, which didn't matter much since Abhishek (35 off 18 balls) had given the team a rousing start in a chase of a paltry target of 118.
"I'll tell you one thing straight away, that trust me, these two guys are going to win matches in World Cup (in February-March) and in this series as well," Abhishek replied when asked about Gill and skipper Suryakumar Yadav's poor run of form in the ongoing five-match series which India leads 2-1 right now.
When it came to Gill, his closest friend of more than a decade, Abhishek was predictably protective.
"Because I've been playing with them since so long, especially with Shubman, so I know which match he can win, which conditions, irrespective of the team, whoever it is," he said.
"So I have a lot of faith in him from the beginning, and I hope everyone will see him very soon and everyone will have faith in him," added the world's No.1 T20 batter.
Once Abhishek got out at a team score of 60, India needed more than 10 overs to score the remaining runs with both Gill and Surya not able to bat freely.
"There was a bit of help for the fast bowlers, and as I was batting, I knew that if I gave a good start here, the match could get over in the Powerplay, and that's what happened.
"...that was the plan for the rest of the batters, that they would just knock out or finish the match, so it was a very simple plan after that," Abhishek explained the rationale behind taking it easy after a blistering start.
Abhishek said he had to keep in mind that in cold December evenings in this part of the country, the pacers would get movement both in the air and off the surface.
"Conditions of course, I mean, as a batter you have to keep those things in mind that the ball is swinging a bit or it's seaming a bit, so I tried to play a few shots which is suitable for those wickets and pitches, so that's the plan always."
