Latest news with #KAMS
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka school association urges government to retain three-language policy to protect kids' rights
Bengaluru: The Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools of Karnataka (KAMS) has appealed to the govt to uphold the three-language policy and implement key reforms to the SSLC language assessment system in the best interest of students across the state. The association said it would approach the court in case the state plans to change it to a two-language formula. It may be recalled that following developments in Maharashtra, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said he also approves of two-language formula. The association said, "Political resistance to the three-language policy in Karnataka disproportionately affects state board students. Students under CBSE and ICSE enjoy access to three languages, often including their mother tongue or a foreign language. The state cannot impose a medium of instruction or deny parental rights regarding language education. Any denial of the third language also adversely affects non-Kannada speakers and linguistic minorities. " You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru It also pointed out that Karnataka is the only state that evaluates the first language paper for 125 marks, while across the nation, all boards restrict this to 100. This creates unnecessary pressure on students, it pointed out. The Karnataka School Education and Assessment Board has already submitted a proposal to the state govt to make the assessment in line with CBSE. The proposal recommends the inclusion of internal marks, reduction of pass mark to 33 instead of 35, and evaluating the first language out of 100 instead of 125 marks. "Don't disturb the three-language policy; make it a choice and flexible with freedom of choice, rather than enforcing or eliminating specific languages. These measures are essential for protecting students' rights, promoting multilingualism, and enabling Karnataka's children to thrive in a national and global context," said D Shashi Kumar, secretary of the association at a press conference Saturday.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
SEP Commission decides to propose two-language policy in Karnataka
Amidst heated debates over whether Karnataka should also ditch the three-language policy in education and opt for a two-language one, like what Maharashtra did recently and Tamil Nadu has been doing for decades, the State Education Policy (SEP) Commission has in its report recommended a two-language policy, multiple sources confirmed to The Hindu. The commission is expected to submit its report to the State government by the end of July. It may be recalled that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had also recently expressed support for a two-language policy. The Karnataka Development Authority (KDA) had also demanded it. The commission has reportedly comprehensively discussed the pressure and effects on children owing to the three-language policy, the number of students failing in the third language — Hindi — in the SSLC exam and the fact that the third language or regional languages are not considered for board examinations in central board schools, before finalising the two-language policy recommendation. Purushottam Bilimale, chairman, Kannada Development Authority (KDA), has said that the State government should also show commitment like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra governments on the implementation of the two-language policy. He said it was a tricky issue for any government headed by a national party, as all national parties have been champions of Hindi. 'But we hope the State government demonstrates its commitment,' he said. He further said that since the language policy played an important role in the education system, the authority would wait for the SEP Commission's report and then take an appropriate decision on the two-language policy and make its recommendations to the government. Private schools' stand Private school organisations such as the Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) have opposed the two-language policy in the State education system. 'The government should not abandon the three-language policy for any reason. There should be an opportunity to learn a third language in schools. But there should not be an imposition of Hindi,' said Shashikumar D., general secretary, KAMS. 'If the three-language policy is abandoned and a two-language policy is implemented in the State, hundreds of schools in Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and other mediums will be closed. Children will be deprived of the right to learn their mother tongue,' he said, adding that learning multiple languages would improve the cognitive ability of children.
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Karnataka health department to switch to app-based attendance
BENGALURU: Health institutions across Karnataka will switch to a mobile-based attendance system for staff, replacing the existing Aadhaar-enabled biometric devices from July 1. The state has issued an order mandating the rollout of the Karnataka Attendance Management System (KAMS) across the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The move aims to address recurring issues with the current hardware-based system, including high maintenance costs, limited coverage in the field and remote locations, and frequent technical breakdowns. The mobile-based system will use Aadhaar-enabled face authentication, enabling attendance tracking across more than 12,000 healthcare institutions without the need for physical infrastructure. Department officials believe the shift will not only reduce operational costs but also enable better attendance monitoring and provide greater flexibility for field staff. Officials at all levels, from district surgeons to divisional directors, have been instructed to ensure the system is implemented by the deadline.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Schools reopen with Covid precautions as cases rise
Schools across the state reopened on Monday for the new academic year after the summer break, with health and education authorities implementing renewed precautionary measures due to a recent increase in Covid-19 cases in the state. As students returned to classrooms, many were seen wearing masks along with teachers and staff members. The state government, anticipating the public health risk, had issued a circular last week stressing the need to follow Covid-19 safety protocols in all schools — government, aided, and unaided. The health and family welfare commissioner, in the advisory, directed parents not to send their children to school if they exhibit symptoms such as fever, cough, or cold. The same applies to school staff — both teaching and non-teaching — who have been asked to take appropriate precautions if they are unwell. 'If children come to school with fever, cough, cold and other symptoms, inform their parents and send them back to home,' the circular from the health department said. 'If these symptoms are found among the school teachers and non-teaching staff, they should be advised to follow appropriate precautionary measures.' The circular mandates strict adherence to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour (CAB), which includes regular hand hygiene, proper cough etiquette, and isolation of symptomatic individuals. Schools have been advised to immediately send home any student found with Covid-like symptoms, while ensuring that staff members also comply with hygiene protocols. As of Sunday evening, Karnataka reported 253 active Covid-19 cases, with four deaths attributed to comorbid conditions since the beginning of the year. In line with health directives, the department of school education and literacy (DSEL) has reiterated that symptomatic children should not be sent to school and should only return after receiving medical attention and full recovery. The commissioner of public instruction also issued a parallel advisory stating that children must attend school only after symptoms subside and that all schools must remain vigilant in implementing preventive measures. General secretary of the associated managements of schools in Karnataka (KAMS) D Shashikumar said, 'For the safety of children, we have been instructed to follow Covid-19 precautionary measures in all schools under our organisation. Accordingly, all our schools have been sanitised. Parents have been advised not to send children with fever, cough and cold and other problems to schools. All the instructions issued by the government in this regard from time to time will be followed without fail.'
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
KAMS issues advisory as schools reopen amid Covid-19 cases rise
BENGALURU: As schools are set to reopen, the Karnataka Association of Management Schools (KAMS) issued an advisory on Sunday, urging all educational institutions to remain alert in light of the new Covid variants and seasonal viral infections. The advisory emphasises a strict health-based attendance policy, stating that students displaying symptoms such as fever, cough, cold, or skin rashes should not be sent to school. Parents are advised to seek immediate medical care for unwell children. 'There is no need for panic. Children who are healthy and symptom-free can safely attend school,' said Shashi Kumar D, General Secretary of KAMS. School heads and teachers are encouraged to promote hygiene by maintaining clean classrooms, ensuring regular handwashing, and improving ventilation. If any student falls ill during school hours, schools are directed to isolate the child safely, provide basic first aid, and inform the parents immediately. Reinforcing that healthy children can safely attend school, KAMS called for cooperation to ensure safe and reassuring learning environments for all.
