Karnataka: State syllabus schools rapidly losing patronage: KUSMA

[Harold Schiffman]

Date:06/11/2007 URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/06/stories/2007110654770500.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Karnataka - Bangalore

State syllabus schools rapidly losing patronage: KUSMA



Special Correspondent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inquiries for new admissions has come down by more than 50 per cent

'Education Department harassing school managements to pay penalty'


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Bangalore: The bourgeoning of CBSE, ICSE and international schools,
and the continuing uncertainty on the language policy of the
Government, has resulted in State syllabus schools rapidly losing
patronage, Karnataka Unaided School Managements Association (KUSMA)
has said. This was a major concern expressed by members of KUSMA who
attended the annual general body meeting held here on Sunday.
Association President G.S. Sharma revealed that the number of
inquiries for new admissions had come down by more than 50 per cent as
private schools had started the admission process this month.

"An important case on the language policy is still pending before the
High Court. After the row on derecognition of schools, parents do not
trust the Government to be consistent in its stand on the language
issue. All this has added to the crisis of State syllabus schools,"
said Mr. Sharma. Parents prefer to send their wards to far off schools
in buses rather than trust the State syllabus schools, Mr. Sharma
said. KUSMA members also raised objections to circulars by the
Education Department that said unaided schools should pay salaries to
teachers on a par with Government employees. This was impossible to
follow without burdening parents, Mr. Sharma argued.


**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to
its members
and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner
or sponsor of
the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who
disagree with a
message are encouraged to post a rebuttal. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)
*******************************************