Mysuru: Strongly criticising the state govt and the education department over the recent SSLC results, BJP MLC H Vishwanath, Saturday, questioned how record-breaking performance was possible amid teacher shortages, inadequate infrastructure and what he described as a deteriorating education system.Vishwanath, the former education minister, said he was shocked by the sharp rise in results, even as many govt schools across Karnataka lack sufficient teachers or basic facilities. He claimed the overall academic conditions in the state had worsened.Citing district-wise data, he said Yadgir has a 41% teacher shortage, Ballari 31%, and Bidar 21%, with similar shortages in other districts as well.Vishwanath alleged that the evaluation process had artificially inflated results. According to him, students are awarded 20 out of 20 in internal assessments and need only 13 marks out of the remaining 80 to pass. He questioned what such a system meant for the future of education, asked what students who pass under these conditions are expected to do next, and said it had weakened children’s interest in genuine learning.Linking this to the department’s role, he also questioned why the education minister, Madhu Bangarappa, visited evaluation centres and alleged that the department issued directions to award full internal marks. He said the trend could lead to a higher dropout rate at the PU level.Vishwanath further alleged financial irregularities in the education department, claiming it had taken a Rs 2,000-crore loan from Asian Development Bank for development works.Referring to a recent court intervention, he said the court reprimanded the state govt over the Hindi grading system and directed that marks be awarded instead of grades. He questioned how the department implemented the change and announced results within just two days of the order.He also targeted Madhu, saying he had failed the PUC examination and was still made the education minister. Blaming chief minister Siddaramaiah for appointing an “unfit” person as the education minister, Vishwanath said Madhu was tarnishing the legacy of his father and former chief minister S Bangarappa.
