The Hindu : Karnataka News : Educationists, NGOs oppose circular on SDMCs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Educationists, NGOs oppose circular on SDMCs

By Nagesh Prabhu

BANGALORE, SEPT. 28. Several intellectuals, educationists, and non-governmental organisations are up in arms against a circular issued by the State Government on August 7 giving powers to the local MLAs to constitute School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs).

A delegation comprising U.R. Ananthamurthy, litterateur; L. Hanumanthaiah, MLC; Niranjanaaradhya, vice-president, National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore; and representatives of NGOs will meet the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, in four days to request him to withdraw the "controversial" circular. According to them, the circular will politicise school education.

Mr. Hanumathaiah told The Hindu on Tuesday that the Government should withdraw the circular to ensure continuation of the existing roles of the SDMCs. The very purpose of SDMCs would be defeated if the MLAs interfered in their functioning.

Formation of panels

Based on the recommendations of the Task Force on School Education, headed by the nuclear scientist, Raja Ramanna, who died last week, SDMCs were formed in over 50,000 primary schools in the State in 2001.

SDMC constitution

Each SDMC consisted of nine parent representatives, elected by parents of school-going children, ex-officio members from gram/taluk/zilla panchayats and nominated members. Prof. Ananthamurthy has strongly objected to the circular and said such decisions would discourage community participation in schools at the grassroots level.

Many educationists and representatives of Action Aid India and India Literacy Project have also opposed the circular. How would one MLA supervise 250 to 300 schools falling under his or her constituency, the experts asked.

In fact, Dr. Raja Ramanna had written a letter to the Chief Minister on August 24, 2004, urging him to withdraw the circular. Dr. Niranjanaaradhya said a memorandum had been submitted to the Industries Minister, P.G.R. Sindhia, requesting him to withdraw the circular.

He had promised to place the issue before the next Cabinet meeting.

Representatives of NGOs and education experts held a meeting here today to decide the future course of action.

Dr. Niranjanaaradhya said that they would launch an agitation if the Government did not withdraw the circular.

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