BENGALURU: A day after on campus learning resumed across Karnataka, primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar visited schools in Bengaluru and Ramanagara district to motivate students and reiterate the importance of health-safety measures. He urged students to stay focused and avoiding skipping classes.
On Saturday, more than 1 lakh out of 3.3 lakh students attended classes at 5,492 PUC colleges in the state, registering attendance of 33 per cent. Out of 9.2 lakh students enrolled in grade 10, 4.2 lakh (45.8 per cent) attended classes.
Addressing a classroom in Ramanagara, Kumar said: “We had a long break. It’s time to focus on studies, and not take leave even for a single day.”
He gave the examples of previous year’s SSLC toppers like Mahesh B who scored 616 out of 625. Mahesh, a student from Karnataka Public School in Jeevanbimanagar, used to work at construction sites.
Kumar asked students when they would want the board exams to be held. Some said June, while a section said March. Kumar said that the government would soon release a tentative timetable for SSLC and II PU exams.
Most students he interacted with agreed that reopening schools was a good idea. “Online classes are not as effective as physical classes. At home, we didn’t always have access to a phone or a computer. That made things difficult,” a student said.
Kumar said that the overall response to school reopening had been good. “I am confident that more parents will send their children to school by next week. There are no difficulties at all,” he added.
Hanifa Zainab and Rahul of Government High School in Jayanagar told STOI they were relieved to be back on campus. Rahul said that the school atmosphere would help him focus on his studies better.
Funds for midday meal cooks
The state government has earmarked more than Rs 93.5 crore as honorarium to be paid to midday meals cooks for the September-November period. There are more than 1.1 lakh such cooks in Karnataka.