Special subject teachers upset with NEP implementation in state

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka may be the first state in the country to implement the National Education Policy 2020, but a section of government school teachers point out that the Department of Primary and Secondary Education have not comprehended the policy’s aim to provide holistic education to children. They have also expressed concerns about their job security.

Drawing and painting, music, dance, drama and vocational education teachers are planning to stage a protest on Monday in Bengaluru. They announced the move on Saturday after explaining the consequences of the department’s new staffing pattern.

According to the teachers, in a Department memorandum dated March 29, officials have been instructed to retain Principals as additional staff along with six subject teachers and one teacher for Physical Education. This excludes Special Teachers (Art, Music, Dance, Drama and Vocational Education) in the category of classes 3 to 5.

Karnataka Rajya Chitrakala Shikshakara Sangha represents the teachers. The association’s President Dr B.G. Avati emphasized the importance of art education in children’s intellectual development. He added that many of the special subject teachers are being transferred to the upcoming Government English medium schools named Karnataka Public Schools. This might leave the Kannada medium schools without these teachers.

We request the Government to retain the existing posts. Special subjects are essential and improve the performance of students even in the core subjects,” he said, adding that the teachers are prepared to work anywhere in the state.

The members of the association said they had submitted several pleas to the Commissioner, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education and even the Chief Minister, but in vain. They suggested that the Department constitute a committee of experts to evaluate the need for Special Subject Teachers and decide according to its recommendations. They also pointed out that the counselling for the posting of Special Subject teachers was carried out only a couple of months ago. They questioned why the process had to be conducted if the teachers were not required.

On Monday, thousands of teachers are reportedly set to stage a protest in front of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Instruction on Nrupatunga Road in Bengaluru.