From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Oct 6: In the wake of proposed pro-Cauvery protest Karnataka bandh on Saturday, the State Government has directed Deputy Directors of Public Instructions (DDPIs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) to declare holidays for primary and high schools and junior colleges after assessing the local situation in each district.
Pro-Kannada organisations have decided to observe Karnataka bandh on Saturday opposing release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
The State Government would not issue any order on declaring holiday for the educational institutions in view of the Karnataka Bandh to protest against the release of water to Tamil Nadu, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said.
He said DDPIs and BEOs have been told to hold consultations with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police (SP) in each district before declaring holidays to schools and junior colleges.
To develop book reading habits among schoolchildren and utilisation of library books, the Government has directed all government, aided and unaided primary and high schools in the State to organise a “Thegeyiri Pushataka Horage-Hachhiri Jnanada Divige” programme on November 7.
The Minister said the main objective of the programme is to create awareness among school children about utility of library books.
School libraries would be renamed as “Shraddha Vachanalaya,” he said.
The programmes would be organised soon after morning prayers in schools Representatives of voluntary organisations, parents, members of school development monitoring committees, donors and leaders of the local area would be asked to read chapters from library books to encourage children to go libraries daily.
The guests of the programmes would be asked to speak on importance of libraries for five to ten minutes, the Minister said.
Asked about the Supreme Court direction to states on providing toilets in schools, the Minister said toilets have been constructed in all government schools in the State.
But scarcity of water was the main reason for lack of utilisation of toilets.
As per the rule, there should be one toilet for every 50 students, he said.
Many schools in the State do not have water source and have to depend on tap water supply from municipal bodies.
In some schools, teachers keep toilets locked for the use of staff members, Kageri said and mentioned that such practice will be stopped.
On provision of funds to schools, he said Rs 4,000 each has been provided to higher primary shcools to purchase sport equipment, Rs1500 to buy music instruments, Rs 5,000 to primary schools and Rs 12,500 per year for high schools for maintenance of classrooms.