BENGALURU, 31 MAY 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered Deputy Directors of Public Instruction (DDPIs) in districts with Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) pass percentages below 60 to be served notices. During a meeting with Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), he emphasised that if the responses to the notices are unsatisfactory, appropriate action must be taken.

"DDPIs must take responsibility. They, along with secretaries in charge of districts, must visit schools and review the performance of teachers. If teachers and DDPIs work with interest, good results will come everywhere," Siddaramaiah stated. He further questioned the slow pace of schoolroom construction under the Viveka scheme, insisting that immediate action plans be implemented.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed dissatisfaction regarding the slow progress in constructing Karnataka Public Schools. "CSR funds to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore is available in the state... Some corporations are misallocating CSR funds to private NGOs in other states, resulting in losses for the state," he remarked.

Shivakumar urged district administrations to engage with corporates to utilise these funds for school development. "The Corporates need not give the government any funds; they can build a school and hand it over to the government," he added, highlighting the need for efficient collaboration to establish model public schools across taluks. Regular progress reports will now be solicited from the districts.