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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
AIDSO stages protest in H.D. Kote, demanding govt. schools in tribal areas
The All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) staged a protest in front of the Block Education Office in H.D. Kote on Monday, urging the State government to safeguard and develop government schools, particularly in tribal settlements (haadis). Leading the protest, AIDSO State treasurer Subhash Bettadakoppa accused the government of systematically undermining public education in favour of privatisation. He alleged that more than 6,200 government schools across the State are being reportedly marked for closure under the pretext of 'low enrolment', even as 473 private schools have been approved in the current academic year alone. 'This is a conspiracy to weaken the government education system,' alleged Mr. Bettadakoppa in a statement here. He further criticised the State's approach to infrastructure development in tribal areas, claiming that permissions for school buildings are routinely denied, while licenses for bars and restaurants are granted without delay. 'In D.B. Kuppe Gram Panchayat alone, four bars have been sanctioned, yet not a single new government school has been permitted,' he claimed. The AIDSO members, who visited government schools in tribal villages including Aane Mala, Goluru, and Balle, claimed that the conditions were alarming. According to their observations, most schools are operating with only two teachers, including the headmaster. The buildings are in a dilapidated state, and basic amenities such as drinking water and proper sanitation are lacking, the statement noted. Despite these issues, the State's Primary and Secondary Education Minister recently attributed the decline in enrolment to parents' growing preference for 'English-medium and private institutions.' Mr. Bettadakoppa criticised this stance, stating, 'Instead of shifting the blame on parents, the government must take responsibility and invest in improving public school infrastructure.' The AIDSO argued that government schools remain the primary educational resource for children of daily wage workers, agricultural labourers, and other economically disadvantaged communities. 'Shutting down these institutions would be an injustice to the underprivileged,' the organisation said.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka headmaster walks 15 km barefoot for classrooms, gets suspended: Report
A government school headmaster in Karnataka's Belagavi has been suspended after staging a barefoot protest demanding proper classrooms for his students, many of whom are forced to study under open skies due to poor infrastructure, Indian Express reported. Veeranna Madivalar, the headmaster of Government Lower Primary School in Nidagundi village walked 15 km barefoot last week to the Block Education Office in Raibag taluk. He also observed a hunger strike, urging authorities to act on a long-pending request to construct classrooms for the 146 students enrolled in his school, the report added. (Also Read: BMTC driver tries to run over woman during roadside argument in Bengaluru, video goes viral) Despite the school being sanctioned three classrooms nearly three years ago during former education commissioner Anbukumar's tenure, construction has not yet begun. In the absence of proper infrastructure, children have been attending classes outdoors. Madivalar, an award-winning educator who has been recognised both at the district and international level, said he resorted to a silent protest as a 'self-imposed punishment' after repeated appeals to authorities went unheard. 'This was never an agitation against the government. I only wanted a basic learning environment for the children,' he told reporters. 'Every award I've received has been used to support my students. No child should have to study under the sun or in the rain.' However, officials did not take kindly to his methods. Days after the protest, the Block Education Officer (BEO) of Raibag taluk, Basavarajappa R, issued a suspension order, citing misconduct and violation of service rules. According to the order, Madivalar's protest was seen as an act of defiance against the department, causing 'embarrassment to the government' and breaching the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021. The order specifically invoked Rule 9(ii), which prohibits government employees from organising or participating in strikes. 'The headmaster should have pursued official channels through written communication, not protested publicly and involved the media,' the BEO said, also noting that the protest attracted social media attention and adverse publicity. The suspension has drawn strong criticism from education activists, parents, and local residents, who say it is unjust to penalise a teacher for highlighting the failure to provide basic infrastructure. While the Tahsildar of Raibag had assured Madivalar during the protest that the matter would be taken up with senior officials, there has been no update on the classroom construction or reversal of the suspension order, the report further added. (Also Read: ' ₹2.7 lakh for 3 BHK?': Bengaluru resident calls out sky-high rent, internet reacts)
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka headmaster suspended after demanding basic classroom facilities for his students
A government school headmaster in Karnataka has been suspended after he protested seeking a classroom for the 146 students of his school who have no choice but to study outdoors. Veeranna Madivalar, Headmaster, Government Lower Primary School, in Nidagundi village under Belagavi district, was recently suspended by education authorities following his 15-kilometre silent protest march and hunger strike last Tuesday. The award-winning educator walked barefoot to the Block Education Office in Raibag taluk, seeking approval for classroom construction. The lack of a classroom has forced children to study under the scorching sun and monsoon rain. Despite three classrooms being approved nearly three years ago during former education commissioner Anbukumar's tenure, the construction has not commenced. Speaking to the media, Madivalar said, 'I am a government servant who has always upheld government dignity. I've received district-level best teacher awards and international recognition, spending all prize money on student welfare.' 'No child should endure the harsh sun, rain, or wind while learning. When repeated appeals went unheard, I punished myself through silent protest – not against the government, but for the children,' he added. The headmaster had ended his demonstration after Raibag Tahsildar Suresh Munje assured him that the matter would be taken up with higher authorities. However, education officials viewed his actions as misconduct, violating service rules. In the suspension order, Basavarajappa R, Block Education Officer, Raibag, stated: 'As headmaster, you protested against the department, causing embarrassment to both the department and the government. Regardless of demands, you should have followed protocol by submitting respectful written requests instead of publicly challenging the system.' The BEO cited violations of Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021, specifically clause 9(ii), prohibiting government employees from organising strikes. Officials also noted that media coverage and social media posts about the protest brought disrepute to the department. The suspension has sparked widespread concern among local communities and education activists, who argued that punishing an educator for advocating basic school infrastructure was a grave injustice.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Decision to suspend teacher demanding more classrooms comes under fire in Karnataka
Some intellectuals and writers have criticised the decision of the government of Karnataka to suspend a primary school headmaster for his silent protest demanding four additional classrooms in Raibag in Belagavi district. The zilla panchayat has issued an order suspending, until further inquiry, Veeranna Madiwalar, headmaster of the government primary school in Ambedkar Nagar in Nidagundi in Belagavi district, for holding a silent protest seeking construction of additional classrooms. The order says he had behaved 'in a manner not befitting a government servant'. Manner of protest On May 27, Mr. Madiwalar had walked from his school to the Block Education Office, holding an image of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and a placard demanding the construction of four rooms. He sat in front of the office and announced a fast unto death till his demand was met. The BEO and tahsildar of Raibag told him that the government had sanctioned two rooms and the construction would begin soon. They asked him to withdraw his protest, but he did not do so. He said the protest would continue till the government gave a concrete assurance about new rooms. The officials claimed that he argued with them in 'an insensitive and uncivilised manner'. The teacher, however, claimed that the officers were blind to his sincere requests, and misinterpreted his intention. 'They issued a suspension order within 24 hours of giving me a show-cause notice. The notice said I should respond in 24 hours. But I was suspended before I could do so,' he said. Out of Kannada Sahitya Sammelana money S.G. Siddaramaiah, former chairman of the Karnataka Book Authority, advised the State Government to stop organising the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana for a few years, and take up construction of classrooms and other infrastructure in all schools. The government spends between ₹20-30 crore per year on the sammelana. 'That money could easily be diverted to such infrastructure creation,' he said. Shashidhar Kosambe, member, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said, 'The State Government should immediately revoke the suspension and fulfil his demand for construction of four new rooms in the school. If the State Government delays these decisions, the commission will register a suo moto complaint against the officials responsible.' He added that Mr. Madiwalar is also a sensitive poet, and has been awarded the Central Literary Award. Detailed reply Mr. Madiwalar said he had given a detailed reply to the government. 'I have argued that I have not violated any rule, nor acted in an uncivilised manner. I am a disciplined government servant, and have done all that I could for developing the school. I have only said that I will continue to demand school rooms. Our school has 150 students from class one to seven, but has only two rooms. What is more, I am the only permanent teacher in our school. We need permanent teachers for all classes and enough classrooms,' he said.
