Teachers and non-teaching staff from special schools across Karnataka are gearing up for a significant statewide demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on January 28. The protest, organized by the Karnataka State Special Teachers and Non-Teaching Staff Association alongside the Karnataka State Federation for the Differently Abled, aims to highlight persistent issues with government funding and unmet demands that have plagued the sector for years.
Widespread Participation Expected
The demonstration is anticipated to draw between 2,000 to 2,500 participants, including special educators, administrative staff, parents, and intellectually disabled adults above 25 years of age. These individuals represent institutions serving children with diverse needs such as intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities, specific learning disabilities, and hearing and visual impairments.
Root Causes of Discontent
During a press briefing on Thursday, association state secretary Vasanth Kumar Shetty detailed the core grievances driving the protest. He revealed that only 34 special schools currently receive grants under the 1982 grant policy, leaving numerous non-profit-run institutions without any financial support from the government.
Shetty explained that the Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens introduced the Child-Centric Assistance Scheme in 2010-11, which extended assistance to approximately 166 schools. However, this scheme has created substantial pay disparities among educators. Under this program, special teachers initially received an honorarium of Rs 6,500 in 2010-11, which was increased to Rs 13,500 in 2014-15 and further raised to Rs 20,250 in 2022.
In stark contrast, teachers working in schools funded under the 1982 policy earn significantly higher monthly salaries ranging between Rs 60,000 and Rs 80,000. Shetty emphasized that this discrepancy violates the fundamental principle of equal pay for equal work.
Additional Systemic Issues
The association secretary highlighted several other concerning practices within the current system. Funding under the child-centric scheme is reportedly discontinued if student numbers fall below prescribed levels, creating instability for institutions. Furthermore, salary disbursements are frequently delayed by several months, causing financial hardship for staff members.
Shetty also referenced a July 2016 evaluation report submitted by a STEM institution in Koramangala, Bengaluru, which was commissioned by the department. This report allegedly found that schools receiving child-centric assistance performed better than government-funded schools, suggesting the effectiveness of the newer scheme despite its financial shortcomings.
Another pressing issue involves approximately 176 special teachers trained under the MCTT program who have had their funding abruptly stopped by the department. While the government has permitted a two-year service extension from 2025-26, Shetty stressed the need for permanent regularization of their services following short-term RCI training.
Comprehensive List of Demands
The protesting associations have put forth a detailed set of demands to address these systemic issues:
- Extend equal benefits to teachers and non-teaching staff under the child-centric scheme, matching those provided under the 1982 grant policy
- Approve a proposed 40% funding increase for state special schools following discussions with Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader
- Implement full financial benefits for special teachers in state special schools as mandated by a Supreme Court order
- Revise child-centric scheme guidelines every five years with expert consultation from selected special schools
- Disburse grants in two annual instalments during June and October to ensure timely funding
- Authorize and fund professional and pre-professional institutions for youths above 25 years in every district
The January 28 protest represents a culmination of frustration among special education professionals who have endured prolonged delays in funding and inadequate government responses to their legitimate concerns. The demonstration aims to bring these critical issues affecting disability education in Karnataka to the forefront of public and governmental attention.
