Colleges with less than 20 pupils to be merged

BANGALORE: Primary and Higher Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri on Tuesday said that government junior colleges which have less than 20 students this year would be merged with nearby colleges.Speaking to reporters here, Kageri said that the decision was taken following a guideline by the Central government.Kageri said that care would be taken that students are not put to hardship while merging colleges. "More than anything, the decision was prompted by the fact that there would be no academic atmosphere if there are less students," he added.He further added that 95 per cent of textbooks have already been dispatched to the concerned BEO offices and the remaining books would be supplied soon. The department has printed 5.68 crore textbooks this year, he added.From this year, the government is giving free textbooks to students in 9th and 10th standards in aided schools also, the minister informed.Similarly, the supply of uniforms has also been started. While the uniforms have already been supplied in Bangalore and Gulbarga divisions, it would be completed by June 10 in Mysore division.However, the supply of uniform in Belgaum division is likely to be delayed till the end of June, Kageri said.Bicycle supplyKageri said that all arrangements have been made to supply bicycles to 8th standard students in government and aided schools. Bicycles will also be given to 9th standard students who had not got last year due to tussle between the government and the bicycle manufacturing companies. Issues are solved and the supply of bicycles would start soon, he said.