School Holiday: A sudden holiday has been announced for schools in Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that government and aided schools in the state will be closed from October 8th to 18th.
This is due to a social and educational survey called the “Caste Survey,” in which teachers are working. The survey began on September 22nd and was scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, but work was delayed in several districts. Therefore, the Chief Minister and his cabinet decided to extend the program by 10 days. During this period, there will be no classes in schools so that teachers can complete the survey.
Chief Minister held a meeting with ministers and officials
The Chief Minister, after a meeting with ministers and officials, stated that the survey work was supposed to be completed by October 7. While it’s nearly complete in some districts, there are delays in many others. For example, in Koppal district, 97 percent of the survey has been completed, while in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, only 63 and 60 percent have been completed, respectively. The survey across the state hasn’t been completed as expected.
Only 34 percent of the survey has been completed so far.
Siddaramaiah stated that only 34 percent of the survey has been completed in Bengaluru so far, with 6,700 teachers working on it. He added that the Karnataka Primary and Secondary School Teachers’ Association and Congress MLC Puttanna had requested additional time to complete the survey. The teachers’ association stated that it would take at least 10 days. Following this, the Education Department, in consultation with the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, issued an order declaring school holidays.
Action will be taken against teachers who deliberately do not participate in the survey.
The Chief Minister stated that the survey involves 1.6 lakh people, including 1.2 lakh teachers and 40,000 government employees. It will be completed in just eight working days and conclude on October 18th. Teachers taking mid-term examinations will be exempt from the survey. The Chief Minister also stated that three employees who lost their lives during the survey will receive a compensation of 20 lakh rupees. He warned that teachers and employees who deliberately do not participate in the survey will be subject to disciplinary action.
