Journalism of Courage
Even as a controversy over revisions carried out by the BJP government in Karnataka in language and social sciences textbooks has delayed their distribution in schools by around 20 days, a learning recovery programme initiated to fill the gap before schools begin their full academic programme has also been affected by the lack of study material.
The “Kalika Chetarike” or the learning recovery programme was introduced this year for Classes 1-9 by the primary and secondary education department but a reality check has revealed that students have not received worksheets related to the programme and some worksheets are still in the editing stage.
Many teachers believe that a programme that was supposed to bridge the learning gap caused by Covid-19 may instead increase it now. Teachers of Class 10, especially those who teach language, are also worried about the uncertainty over Kannada textbooks because of the ongoing controversy.
“This year, students are facing a lot of problems in terms of uniform and textbooks. After 20 days of school reopening, we are supposed to begin Kalika Chetarike (learning recovery), but there is no supply of worksheets,” a teacher at a government high school in Bengaluru rural district said.
“We are hearing from the DSERT (Department of State Educational Research and Training) that some worksheets are in the editing stage. The language teachers for Class 10 are confused over what to teach because of the textbook revision controversy. The learning loss seems to be increasing,” said Shoba, headmaster of a government high school in Sarakki.
A controversy has erupted in Karnataka over the alleged saffronisation of language and social sciences textbooks, resulting in delay in their distribution as the state government dallies between revising controversial portions or withdrawing the revised textbooks and returning to the old ones that have to be printed.
According to the Karnataka education department, nearly 80% of textbooks have been printed and 76% have reached the block education offices.
While the provision of study material has not kept pace with the opening of schools, there are issues with supply of uniforms across government and private schools. Government schools are yet to receive fresh sets of uniform. Unlike private schools, government school students are expected to get the uniform stitched on their own with the material provided by the state government.
According to Vishal R, commissioner of the Department of Public Instruction, a tender has not yet been called for uniforms. “We have written to the government but it has not been approved yet. A set of uniform from the last academic year is currently being used. Normally, students should get it before the classes but the price of yarn has shot up, leading to the delay,” he said.
Vendors claim that cotton that was being imported from China has stopped, while the Ukraine-Russia conflict has led to an increase in the price of all raw materials.
