An insult to Kuvempu, says BJP; Minister Madhu Bangarappa expresses regret

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Legislature witnessed noisy scenes yesterday with the Opposition BJP denouncing Social Welfare Department residential schools displaying a quote at the entrance that reads “Jnana degulavidu dhairvagi prashnisi” (This is a shrine of knowledge, ask questions boldly).

They contended that it had replaced the slogan “Vidya degulavidu kai mugidu olage banni” (This is a shrine of education, enter with folded hands).

BJP members said it was the Karnataka Social Welfare Department Principal Secretary P. Manivannan’s decision to change the slogan at the entrance of residential schools across the State and sought action against the senior official. The change in the slogan, they argued, is an insult to Jnanpith awardee late Kuvempu, who they said had penned the previous one.

Raising the issue in the Legislative Assembly during Zero Hour, BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra said the revised slogan, now displayed prominently at the entrance of many Morarji Desai Residential Schools, had ignited debate on various platforms, ranging from social media to staff rooms. He contended it was an insult to Kuvempu.

Meanwhile, the issue was also raised by the BJP members in Legislative Council even as the Government refused to entertain discussion on the subject during Zero Hour. “Discuss the issue under any other rule and not during Zero Hour,” Tejaswini Gowda, who was at chair, insisted.

Opposition leader Kota Srinivas Poojary demanded answer from the Government. When the ruling party refused to oblige, the BJP members trooped into the well, resulting in slogan shouting from both sides and House proceeding was stalled.

When the House reconvened, the BJP members took back their protest after the Government promised to secure a response from the Minister concerned.

 Responding to the controversy, Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, expressed regret over the alteration, emphasising the Government’s reverence for Kuvempu’s legacy and advocating for religious harmony.

He suggested retaining the original words while integrating the new message of bold questioning. Social Welfare Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa said the Government had not issued any directive, criticizing the BJP for politicising the issue based on remarks made in a messaging platform.

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Mysore/Mysuru: Minister of School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa has advised the students to achieve in life with constant efforts, without considering failure in academics as the dead end.

He was speaking during an interaction organised by Shakthidhama Trust and Shakthidhama Vidyashala, at the foot of Chamundi Hill in city on Saturday.

“If a student fails in exams and feels that there is nothing left in life, they cannot face challenges in life and reach their aim. It is only with perseverance that one can achieve in their life,” he said.

Answering to the question of a student named Siddamma, who was curious to know whether there are any changes between the previous and present education system, the Minister said “Earlier, most children were deprived of education.  Now, owing to many reforms in the system, education has been made compulsory for all. The impetus is also given to the health of the students, by providing nutritious food, milk and egg at all Government Schools. Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) is supplying milk for five days a week. Likewise, education sector has undergone many changes for the benefit of children’s future.”

Even now in most of the places, children are forced to learn at schools by squatting on the floor. Hence, measures are taken to develop a sense of equality among students by providing desks and benches to schools, he added.

 “The State Government has chalked out schemes in the field of education that are essential to shape the future of country and also the students. To realise the schemes, Rs. 44,000 crore has been earmarked for education sector in the recent budget for the year 2024-25,” the Minister said.

Swathi, an SSLC student, referred to increase in number of exams, replying to which, the Minister said “Exams are integral in view of learning for students. But there is nothing to fear about the exams. Instead, preparations should be conducted before hand without succumbing to fear. However, there is a provision to write supplementary exams same year. One should come out of the mindset of hitting the dead end upon failing in exams and make judicious use of the opportunities. Even Government wants all the students to pass the exams. The students should study with devotion than suffering from exam tension.”

To a suggestion of Kruthika, a class eight student to implement skill-based education on cyber security, information technology among others, he said “At school level, the students should follow textbooks for learning. But still there is a provision for extra-curricular activities. It is only after SSLC or II PUC, there are opportunities for skill-based education and higher education. Unlike earlier days, the Information Technology is way ahead now, with the plethora of information available on cell phone.”

Singing of Preamble

Earlier, the students rendered a song on the preamble of Indian Constitution to spread the message of ‘Constitution as Religion.’ A troupe of students comprising Ankitha, Durgamma, Jnanama, Rekha and others exhibited their skills in Rope Mallakambha art.

Hon. President of Shakthidhama Trust Geetha Shivarajkumar explained about the functioning of the school.

Actor Shivarajkumar, KMF Chairman Bheema Naik, Director of Shakthidhama Vidyashala Manjula, Trustee Sadanand and others were present.

‘Namma Shale Namma Javabdhari’ from Feb. 27

School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be launching ‘Namma Shale Namma Javabhdari’ programme on Feb. 27.

The concept of the programme is to encourage the alumni to do their mite for their alma mater. Accordingly, the CM will be donating Rs. 10 lakh from his salary to the school he studied.

“I am also lending a helping hand towards the Government School where my father had his early education. This initiative will come in handy in running Smart Class and supplying computers to Government Schools,” said the Minister.

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School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa expresses concern over poor quality of education; promises remedial measures

Mysore/Mysuru: Mysuru, once hailed as a ‘Hub of Education,’ is facing a challenge in maintaining its prestigious status, said School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa.

He has voiced serious concerns over the migration of students from Mysuru and surrounding districts to Mangaluru due to perceived diminishing quality of education.

Chairing a progress review meeting of the School Education and Literacy Department at the Zilla Panchayat Hall here this morning, he highlighted the significant migration of students from Mysuru to Mangaluru between 2019 and 2023.

“Over the past five years, a total of 15,000 students, including those from Govern-ment, aided and unaided educational institutions in Mysuru district, have opted to move to Mangaluru, citing concerns about the quality of education here. This trend is also observed in Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Chikkamagalur districts,” he revealed, pledging to implement measures to tackle this issue.

In the wake of recent incidents of forcing school students to clean toilets on campus, which drew sharp criticism across the State, the Minister warned the authorities not to give room for such complaints.

 The Department is also developing a software to enable people to raise complaints on cleanliness on campus by sending them to a command centre. A total of 48,000 schools are functioning in the State and the students who should hold ‘pen and books’ in hand shouldn’t be forced to hold brooms, he said.

In addition, free electricity and drinking water will be supplied to schools to facilitate students to make use of computer labs, which otherwise remains unused owing to errant power supply, he added.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mysuru Zilla Panchayat  (ZP) K.M. Gayathri, Chamarajanagar ZP CEO Anand Prakash Meena and other officers were present at the meeting.

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Mysore/Mysuru: Defending the move of the State Congress Government to stage a protest against the Centre at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi tomorrow (Feb. 7) under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa alleged that injustice is being meted out to Education Department also from the Centre.

Speaking to media persons at Government Guest House in the city this morning, he said that under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), every student should be allocated an average of Rs. 5,500 from the Centre, which varies in the range of 10 percent to 15 percent from every State.

“However, Karnataka has been allotted Rs. 2,400 per student. I have written questioning this disparity to Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan, but still waiting for an opportunity to meet the Minister,” he claimed.

Unlike other Departments, the School Education and Literacy Department is bigger and full of challenges and issues that remain to be addressed. A total of 1.2 crore students study in 58,000 Government schools. Taking into cognisance the need for opportunities for students to perform, three annual exams were introduced.

A total of 1.2 lakh II PU students appeared for the third exam and 42,000 among them passed. Similar system is introduced in the SSLC exam too and the usage of word ‘supplementary’ in marks sheet has been discontinued, he added.

On the proposal to introduce ragi malt to school students under Ksheera Bhagya Yojane, he said it will be implemented soon. “Ksheera Bhagya Yojane is already in force with milk given to students thrice a week. Plans are on the anvil to add ragi malt powder with milk. Testing is underway at Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru,” he added.

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67th National-level U-19 Kabaddi Championship

Kabaddi players in India are cultural ambassadors of the country, said Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Madhu Bangarappa, here yesterday. He was speaking after inaugurating 67th National-level U-19 Kabaddi Championship organised by Department of School Education in association with Adichunchanagiri Mutt at Nagamangala here.

“The State has had the opportunity to organise the Championship after a gap of eight years for which the Adichunchanagiri Mutt has extended its support. It is important for the children to get involved in sports activities from a young age,” he noted.

Announcing that Shivamogga would be hosting the National-level Volleyball Tournament from    Jan. 29, Madhu Bangarappa added that the State would be playing host to two National-level Tournaments in a short span of time.

Kabaddi players from 29 States including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, CBSE Welfare Sports Institute, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Council for the Indian School, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman, Dav College Managing Committee, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Navodaya Vidyalaya Committee, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Vidya Bharati, West Bengal are participating.

While a total of 29 boys teams are vying for the Championship, 28 girls teams will fight for supremacy in the Tournament. Adichunchanagiri Mutt Pontiff Dr. Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji, General Secretary Sri Prasannanatha Swamiji, Department of PU Education Director Sindhu B. Roopesh, Department of Sports Assistant Director Dr. Gubbigudu Ramesh, Department of PU Education Deputy Director Cheluvaiah, Department of Collegiate Education’s District Deputy Director Shivaramegowda  and others were present.

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Shivamogga: School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said “3,000 Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) will be opened in the State, with an estimated 300 schools planned to be opened in this academic year.”

Speaking during an educational workshop on ‘Change in Exam Pattern’ organised at Kuvempu Rangamandira on Wednesday, Madhu Bangarappa said “KPS will offer education from LKG to grade 12. However, it would be compulsory for the students to study Kannada either as first or second language. There won’t be any compromise when it comes to Kannada as ‘Medium of Instruction.’”

“A total of 43,000 guest teachers and 12,000 permanent teachers are recruited in the interest of students and 20,000 more teachers will be recruited in the coming days,” he said.

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Minister Madhu Bangarappa announces during Teachers Day celebrations at Vidhana Soudha

Bengaluru: In what would be a reprieve for the students appearing for SSLC and II PUC exams, they will get a chance to write the annual exams not twice (including supplementary exams), but thrice, with effective from this academic year.

Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa has announced that “The SSLC and II PUC students can write board exams thrice in a year, to improve their chances to pursue professional courses in higher education, which otherwise becomes a juggernaut for the students, in case of flunking in the exams.”

Making the key announcement during Teachers Day celebration organised at Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha here yesterday, Minister Madhu Bangarappa said “The measure is taken to provide an opportunity for students to move to the next class even if they fail in a few subjects. The Department of School Education and Literacy was till now conducting exams twice in a year for the failed students. However, the new step is taken to ensure their academic progress, meaningful learning and to enhance their knowledge. The Department of School Education and Literacy will release the time-table of  these exams.”

SSLC: Tentative Time-table

• Exam-1: Mar. 30 to Apr. 15 (results on May 8)
• Exam-2: June 12 to June 19 (results on June 29)
• Exam-3: July 29 to Aug. 5 (results on Aug. 19)

II PUC: Tentative Time-table

• Exam-1: Mar. 12 to 25 (results on Apr. 22)
• Exam-2: May 15 to June 5 (results on June 21)
• Exam-3: July 12 to July 30 (results on Aug. 16)

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Mysuru:  Expressing confidence that the JD(S) will win in all four Assembly Segments in the city including Chamundeshwari, JD(S) Youth President and Sorab MLA Madhu Bangarappa has asserted that the JD(S) would come to power on its own in the State.

Speaking at Bannimantap here yesterday. Madhu Bangarappa said that he was hopeful that the JD(S) candidates in all the city Assembly segments will emerge victorious in the Assembly Polls.

Stating that he has been touring the State based on a direction from top party leaders, Madhu said that he will be touring Chamarajanagar Assembly segment on Tuesday (Apr. 10), during which a prominent Congress leader is likely to join the JD(S).

Chamaraja Constituency JD(S) candidate Prof. K.S. Rangappa, K.R. Candidate K.V. Mallesh, N.R. Candidate Abdul Azeez, City JD(S) President K. T. Chaluvegowda, leaders Koppal Rajanna, former Mayor M.J. Ravikumar and others were present.

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Mysuru:  Even as the three main political parties are engaged in finalising the candidates for the May 12 Assembly Polls, in an interesting development youth JD (S) State President and Soraba MLA Madhu Bangarappa met Senior BJP leader V. Sreenivasa Prasad at the latter’s residence in Jayalakshipuram here this morning.

The meeting has raised speculations on whether Prasad, a tall dalit leader, will quit the BJP to rejoin the JD(S), which he had quit over a decade ago to join the Congress.

The meeting also assumes significance in the wake of  Prasad’s pledge to defeat CM Siddharamaiah in Chamundeshwari. Meanwhile, sources also said that Prasad, who is not too happy with the BJP, may be mulling on quitting the party  and today’s meeting with Madhu has set the tone for the veteran leader’s re-entry to JD(S).

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