Student strength: The buck stops at teachers

BANGALORE: The Karnataka governmenthas decided to cut salaries of teachers if they fail to ensure the stipulatednumber of students in both aided and unaided schools.The rule underlinesthe government''s changing perception on extending financial grants toeducational institutions and also reinforces Chief Minister S.M. Krishna''sstatement during the budget that the grant-in-aid code would be reviewed.Acircular, issued by the Commissioner of Public Instruction in the last week ofAugust, said unaided primary schools will attract derecognition and cut insalaries of aided primary school teachers if the 40-student strength was notadhered to. The rule also applies to high schools with less than 25students.The circular further said: ``Aided schools, not recognised forseveral years, should be derecognised. If such schools have not soughtrecognition, salary grants should be stopped from October 2002. The deputydirectors can initiate disciplinary action against block education officers whodo not stop salary grants of such schools.''''In the circular, thecommissioner admitted that certain unrecognised aided schools have been drawingsalary grants for several years. ``This is illegal and has attracted the ire ofthe Accountant-General,'''' he said.The circular has asked all schools toseek recognition under the Karnataka Education Act, which came into effect inJune 1995.``Schools with necessary infrastructure should be accordedrecognition till any change is made in the rules. If schools do not haveinfrastructure, they should be accorded temporary recognition for three years.Annual recognition has been replaced with a three-year one,'''' the circularsaid.Schools established before June 1, 1995 but not providing classrooms,toilets, drinking water and teaching aids should be derecognised immediately.Officials should issue show-cause notices to such schools and take a decision byMarch, 2003.Unaided schools can open additional classes depending oninfrastructure available. For aided schools, proposals on additional classesshould be routed through the Zilla Panchayat, the circular added.Also, thecircular has asked schools not to insist on attestation of transfer certificateswhile admitting students to Class VIII. ``Since the department conducts ClassVII examination and issues marks cards, all students are recognised by thedepartment. Hence, there is no need to attest the transfer certificate,'''' itstated.