Move to regulate CBSE, ICSE schools, fix fees approved

The state Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal to regulate Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) schools to ensure safety of students in these institutions.

The Karnataka Education Act, 1983, will be amended to enable the government to regulate activities, including fee fixation, of private schools. The move will empower the state government to inspect the premises of CBSE and ICSE schools and monitor their fees, sources in the government said.

The government plans to amend the Act during the ongoing legislature session. The move comes close on the heels of the tragic death of three boys due to suspected food poisoning at a residential school in Tumakuru recently. Hitherto, the government had no control over CBSE and ICSE schools, the sources added.

The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. But the media was not briefed about the outcome of the meeting.

Teachers’ transfer

Besides, the Cabinet approved a proposal to bring in changes in general transfer of government schoolteachers. Teachers working in urban areas (A zone) for more than 10 years will be transferred compulsorily. Those working in rural areas (in C zone) will be given priority for transfers to urban areas, the sources added.

The transfer rules would specify the norms to be followed while handling cases where husbands and wives are posted in the same place or in different places, and those who are physically challenged. For primary schoolteachers, the district will be considered a unit, while the revenue division is considered a unit for high schoolteachers while considering applications for transfers. Only 15% of the teachers will be transferred in a year, according to the new rules, the sources said.

Fraudulent allotment

This apart, the Cabinet approved initiating a process to cancel granting of prime land to an individual in 2013. The Revenue department has been directed to issue a notice to one Sundaresh who was allotted four acres of land at Srigandhada Kaval in Bengaluru North taluk on April 22, 2013.

The sources said the Advocate General of Karnataka opined that Sundaresh was not entitled to the land grant. He misled the government by claiming that his father was a political sufferer and hence, he was entitled to the grant of land from the government. The Cabinet, therefore, initiated the process to cancel the grant, the sources added.

DA hike

The government, it is said, has begun the process of increasing dearness allowance by 3 percentage points, to its employees. At present, it is 40.25% of the basic salary. It may come into effect from April 1, sources in the government said.

Other decisions

Set up a modern sheep and goat abattoir at Sira taluk in Tumakuru district at a cost of Rs 25 cr

Appointment of retired surveyors on contract basis

Free distribution of uniforms to children studying in government schools in 2017-18 academic year at a cost of Rs 156 cr

Free bicycle distribution to Class VIII students of government and aided schools in 2017-18 academic year at a cost of Rs 172 cr