Rationalisation of high school teacher posts creates chaos in Karnataka; special teachers to be removed from 70% govt, aided schools

HUBBALLI: The govt has initiated the rationalisation of high school teacher posts across the state. As it has decided to squash the post of special teachers in govt and aided high schools with a student strength of less than 350, almost 70% of high schools are expected to be deprived of special teachers.
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At the other end, the post of Mathematics (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) teacher is being reduced from two to one, and the senior PCM teacher is being shifted to another school.
This move has created chaos among high school teachers and students in the state. It is learnt that the education department is preparing to release the 'additional teachers list' in the first week of July and plans to shift them to other schools within 2-3 days, so that teachers do not have time to question it in the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT).
However, many PCM teachers are preparing to approach KAT as soon as they receive the order considering them as 'additional teachers'.
According to the circular, high schools with a maximum strength of 280 students can have seven teachers—one each for General Science, Social Science, Mathematics, Physical Education, and three languages. If the strength is between 281-350, there can be two PCM teachers.
'Without any reason, the department posted TGT PCM teachers, who were appointed in primary schools earlier, to high schools where the students' strength was about 100, two years ago.
Officials orally said that it was done as per NEP. Now, the department is transferring teachers, who were working just for 2-3 years in the school, considering us as additional teachers,' said many PCM teachers who are facing unwanted transfer now.
The circular also instructs that there need not be any special teachers teaching one of the subjects from music, drawing, drama-dance, and craft in schools with a student strength of less than 350.
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Karnataka State High School Assistant Teachers' Association President Siddabasappa B said that he has told PCM teachers to question this move through their DDPIs. 'The govt should ensure that all students of about 5,000 govt high schools should get special education,' he commented.
Educationist Dr VP Niranjanaradhya noted that according to the Asian Development Bank's recent report on the 'Universalisation of Secondary Education', the dropout rate at classes 9-10 is 22.1%, while the national rate is 14.1%.
'It's an alarming sign for the state, and if the govt intends to rationalise teacher posts, it will help private institutions to grow. Incentivisation like bicycles for high school girls has been stopped for 5 years. Mere rationalisation is not a solution. There should be well-connected primary and high schools to prevent dropout at the high school stage. High schools within 5 km, feeder schools should be connected.
The state has only 1.3% of schools that have continuous 1-10 classes,' he observed.
Quote hanger: 'The circular is issued as per the decision of the govt. If we get representations from teachers, students, parents, and other stakeholders, we will re-look into it.' - KV Trilok Chandra, Commissioner of Public Instruction, Bengaluru

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