It’s A Violation of A Child’s Right to Quality Education

The chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Kripa Amar Alva, has termed the ongoing process of redeployment of additional teachers in schools as violation of a child’s right to quality education.

         

Ms. Alva told reporters here on Saturday that she had fixed an appointment with the Chief Minister on Wednesday. “Following that meeting, the commission will take a stand for the welfare of children,” she said.Ms. Alva said the commission has received nearly 300 complaints from Dakshina Kannada and other parts of the State questioning the process of redeployment of teachers.

Instead of wielding the stick right away, Ms. Alva said the commission had discussions with teachers, School Development and Monitoring Committee members and activists. She also had a detailed meeting with Primary Education Minister Tanvir Sait. Ms. Alva said that the formula on which the number of additional teachers was calculated is as per the RTE Act that prescribes one teacher for 30 students.

The commission was concerned over problems caused to students because of redeployment. “Unfortunately the Principal Secretary (for Primary Education) is not understanding it,” she said. Ms. Alva said that with the redeployment of teachers, the State government has defeated the efforts put in by the commission in enrolling new students to government schools. She said that the commission has so far not received orders of the Chairman of Child Welfare Committee, Udupi, ordering status quo in the process of redeployment of additional teachers from a few schools in Udupi.