Government: No new preschools in Karnataka for now

BENGALURU: At a meeting called by the additional chief secretary to the chief minister over the issue of starting kindergarten classes in govt schools, the department of school education and literacy was asked not to increase the number of preschools from the existing 2,786 until further orders.
Meanwhile, anganwadis which have workers with a minimum PU degree will start kindergarten classes, and workers will be trained for it. In its columns on Sunday, TOI had reported that a turf war was brewing between two departments - department of school education and literacy and department of women and child development - over starting LKG and UKG classes in govt schools.
The decision to start kindergarten classes in schools was met with stiff resistance from anganwadi workers, who fear loss of jobs as kids would move towards schools at age four. CM Siddaramaiah had appointed his additional chief secretary, LK Atheeq, to convene meetings with the two departments to find an amicable solution.
At the meeting, held on Monday, it was decided to form a committee to analyse the performance and effectiveness of kindergarten classes in schools vis-a-vis those in anganwadis, officials said. Until then, the education department has been asked not to expand preschools. Those schools that have started preschool sections can continue with them.

Those anganwadis that are co-located with schools and have teachers who have at least passed PU can start kindergarten classes. Both departments will work on these kindergarten classes jointly. While there are 5,000 schools that are co-located, the number of such anganwadis with qualified workers is yet to be determined.
Anganwadi workers who are qualified to become teachers will be trained by Azim Premji Foundation.

While anganwadi workers have been assured of no job losses, it has also been decided that over time, a committee needs to chart out a policy for ECCE (early childhood care and education) and find means to converge both departments for this.