Karnataka Anganwadi Workers Protest Govt’s Decision to Introduce Pre-Primary Classes in Schools
Image Used for Representational Purpose
Questioning the main objectives of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme and the Anganwadi system, the Karnataka state government has come up with a new decision to start pre-primary classes in the government schools.
On May 17, the state government had issued an order to start pre-primary classes in government schools. In the preliminary phase, kindergarten levels will be started in as many as 276 government schools in the academic year 2019-20. Children of minimum three and half years of age can be admitted in these kindergartens.
The Anganwadi workers across the state, however, are up in arms against the move of the government. They staged a demonstration against the move on May 30 in Bengaluru. The workers have said that the introduction of pre-primary classes is likely to affect the functioning of anganwadis which accommodate children within the age group of three to six, which is the same age group associated with pre-primary classes.
“We are not against the pre-primary classes. Our demand is that the pre-primary classes should be started in the existing Anganwadi centres,” said S Varalakshmi, president of Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers’ Association and state president of Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
Read more: K’taka Govt School Teachers’ Fight for Recovery and Survival
Under the new scheme, guest teachers would be recruited with a pay scale of Rs 7,500 per month. In addition, helpers will also be recruited with a monthly honorarium of Rs 5,000. Hence, the introduction of pre-primary classes will definitely affect the jobs of Anganwadi workers and helpers. There are 62,580 Anganwadis and 3,331 mini-Anganwadis in the state which fall under the Department of Women and Child Development.
“It is not only about job security, the concept of ICDS itself is collapsing,” said Varalakshmi.
“Food and milk will be provided to students and the vice-principal of the school will be responsible for conducting regular health check-ups and immunisation programmes for children,” the circular on the new scheme reads.
Though the new scheme ensures food and immunisation, Varalakshmi said that the scheme “is just a duplication of the concept of ICDS”. However, the Department of Primary and Secondary Education hopes that the new decision would prevent dropouts and ensure smooth transition of the students from pre-primary to primary classes.
Read More: SC Cancels ICDS Tenders Worth Rs 6,300 Crore in Maharashtra, Victory For Anganwadi Workers
“In Karnataka, pre-primary education is doing well. The government and the authorities did not even seek our opinion on this policy. It was clearly a one-sided decision from Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy who is currently holding the charges of education ministry as well,” Varalakshmi observed.
Following the protest demonstration, Women and Child Development Minister Jayamala and Education Principal Secretary met the protesters and assured a meeting with the chief minister.
Earlier, Kumaraswamy in his budget had pointed out that the government would shift Anganwadis to 4,100 government schools. He had also said that there were plans to start LKG and UKG classes in government schools to improve the quality and number of students who are enrolled.
Read More: India: 50 Years of Revolutionary Trade Union Movement
Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
