Posted by: Published on – Tue, 15 Nov 22 at 09:14 PM
(Source: IANS). The government of Karnataka, under its Viveka scheme, has decided to paint classrooms the color saffron as a means of ensuring their “uniformity”.
Hyderabad: The BJP-led Karnataka government’s decision to paint classrooms in more than 7,000 schools across the state in saffron has sparked debate among educators and political parties, calling the move a saffronisation of education.
The government of Karnataka, under its Viveka scheme, has decided to paint classrooms the color saffron as a means of ensuring their “uniformity”.
This was revealed by School Education Minister BC Nagesh at a program in Gadag on Sunday. “The new classrooms in Viveka will be in saffron color not because of the ideology it represents, but because of the architect’s suggestion,” the minister was reported to have said.
Under the Viveka classroom programme, the Karnataka state government is refurbishing dilapidated classrooms. The education department is building classrooms in new schools such as Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) or Adarsha schools. For this, the ministry has reportedly approved about Rs 9.92 crore under the scheme for the refurbishment and construction of about 7,000 Viveka classrooms.
Soon after the minister’s announcement, educators and political parties condemned the move and slammed the Karnataka government for trying to influence its “political agenda” under the guise of coloring classrooms. Educator Vice President Niranjanaradhya described the government’s move to paint classrooms with saffron as “a new form of saffronization in education”.
Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily reportedly denounced the proposal as an attempt to upend an education system based on the principles of scientific inquiry.
Despite criticism, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has defended his government’s controversial decision. “What’s wrong? The saffron color is part of the national flag. We are building classrooms and dedicating them to Swami Vivekananda, a monk who wears saffron,” he told media in Kalburagi district.
Instead, the Government of Telangana under its flagship scheme ‘Mana Ooru-Mana Badi’ in rural areas and ‘Mana Basthi – Mana Badi’ in urban areas is undertaking multiple efforts to fully develop and strengthen all 26,065 government and regional infrastructure. Local group schools are implemented in phases. These works are being carried out at an estimated cost of Rs. 7,289.54 million.
As part of the program, the Education Department is implementing Architecture as a Learning Aid concept, which aims to improve the quality of education by developing different classroom themes, including legends such as kid-friendly cartoons, animals and nature, scientists, athletes, track and field athletes, freedom fighters, etc. Characters great leaders, historical structures and diagrams (geography and history of the world and countries, etc.)
