Students in containment zones allowed to write Class 10 board exam in Karnataka

Education

There are as many as 440 active containment zones in Bengaluru as of Monday.

Prajwal Bhat

Students staying in containment zones across Karnataka will be allowed to write the class 10 board exams set to begin on Thursday. The decision was confirmed by Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) director V Sumangala.  "Students in containment zones were earlier asked to skip this examination and write the supplementary examination but that decision has been changed and they will be allowed to write the examinations this week. They will be seated in a separate room," Sumangala told TNM. There are as many as 440 active containment zones in Bengaluru as on Monday. All existing examination centres that are located inside containment zones will also be shifted. More than 8.4 lakh students have registered to write the board exams, which starts on June 25 and ends on July 4.   Read: 440 containment zones in Bengaluru, 14 have more than 5 coronavirus cases each Students will undergo thermal screening and have to wear masks, use sanitisers and maintain distance at the exam centres. Students with signs of cough, cold and fever will also be seated in a separate room with one student on each bench. Health checkup centres will be set up at examination centres and will be open till the completion of the examination.  Examination during monsoon In a few districts of Karnataka, officials have the added problem of conducting the examinations during the peak monsoon period. The southwest monsoon is active in the state and heavy rains have been reported in the coastal and Malnad regions in the state. In Kodagu district, officials are taking measures to ensure that students do not have to commute long distances to write the examination.   "We have identified 350 students who might face difficulties because they are coming from remote areas to write the examinations. We will be housing them in hostels so that they do not face difficulties commuting," Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Joy said.  For students in border areas  In addition to this, few students will be travelling from Kerala to write examinations in districts like Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada. In Kodagu, the students from Kerala will be tested upon their arrival in Kodagu and will be accommodated in hostels in the district until their examinations are completed.  In other districts like Dakshina Kannada, where as many as 367 students from bordering districts of Kerala, including Kasaragod, will be travelling to write the examinations, buses have been arranged to transport the students from the border checkpost. Such students will not need to register on the Seva Sindhu portal nor will they require interstate e-passes. Parents have been asked to bring the students to the border and the students will be transported to the examination centres before 7.30 am. KSEEB has shifted two examination centres to Goa for the convenience of 57 students living close to the state border. Earlier, students would write the examination in Karwar in Uttara Kannada district, but now, arrangements will be made at schools in Zuarinagar and Mangor Hill on the Goa side of the state border.  While board examinations were cancelled in Telangana and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka decided to go ahead with holding examinations. A petition filed in the Supreme Court questioning the decision was dismissed and the Karnataka government has given assurances to the apex court that certain guidelines will be followed to ensure that students maintain distance, wear masks and sanitise their hands during the examination.   Some schools in the state have conducted mock runs of the examination without the students.

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Bengaluru cop who tested positive for coronavirus reportedly dies by suicide

coronavirus

The 49-year-old deceased was a head constable with the 4th battalion of KSRP.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

A Karnataka State Reserve Police Force (KSRP) officer has died in a reported suicide on Tuesday morning in Bengaluru. According to Indiranagar Police, the 49-year-old head constable with the 4th battalion of KSRP was being transported to a designated hospital in a police bus after his test results came back positive. However, his body was found in the bus when it reached the hospital. Previous reports of suicide have also emerged in the state during the coronavirus pandemic. The first such incident was reported on April 27, when a 50-year-old man who had been admitted ti the COVID-19 ward of Victoria Hospital also died by suicide. There have also been reports of suicide by individuals who were kept in institutional quarantine, particularly among interstate returnees. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, four more police officers, who were placed under institutional quarantine in Marathahalli since Friday, tested positive. The four were part of the 11-member team who had arrested four accused from Hosur in Tamil Nadu. They were put in institutional quarantine after one of the accused tested positive. The state’s police force has till date seen three policemen succumbing to the disease. With the high increase in cases among police personnel in the state, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday had demanded dedicated testing centres for the police force, following a meeting with Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa. In wake of the increasing cases, City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Sunday ordered all police staff in the city above the age of 55 to remain at home as they are more vulnerable. For this period, he said staying home will be counted as duty for these staff. Till Monday night, the number of police officers who contracted the infection in Bengaluru alone was 59, with 49 of them currently hospitalised. A total of six police stations were also shut down temporarily for sanitisation and fumigation purposes. If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families. Tamil Nadu State health department's suicide helpline: 104 Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu) Andhra Pradesh Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930 Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584 Karnataka Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222 Kerala Maithri: 0484 2540530 Chaithram: 0484 2361161 Both are 24-hour helpline numbers. Telangana State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104 Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200 SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm) Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.     24x7 Helpline: 9820466726  Click here for working helplines across India.

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Can online learning match classroom education? Karnataka expert committee mulls

Education

Committee members say that the best place for learning is in the classroom as there is room for children to communicate with teachers, and also among themselves.

Theja Ram

In Karnataka, the ongoing online classes for students from Classes 6 to 10 has brought out the stark contrast among students in terms of the technology required to access education. While the right to education is a fundamental right in India, only those with the capacity to purchase gadgets and have access to the internet are currently able to attend online classes. The larger question is: what happens to students from economically weaker sections, especially those studying in government schools? Speaking to TNM, a senior official with the Department of Primary and Secondary Education said that the state government cannot afford to buy laptops or even smartphones for children in government schools to enable them to attend online classes.  “That is going to take a lot of money, and currently we don’t have the resources to buy laptops or smartphones and also provide free internet access to the over 70 lakh students in government schools,” the official said. However, the state government is looking at airing pre-recorded classes for government school children via television. “We have conducted a survey and found that over 95% of children in Karnataka’s government schools have a television set at home. We’re thinking about airing pre-recorded classes. We’re also considering having a system where the children can call their teachers via phone and discuss any difficulties they face. This is also to ensure that the children are monitored. We’re yet to decide the logistics for this plan as we are waiting for the expert committee’s report to take further steps,” the official added. Earlier this month, the Karnataka government constituted an expert committee to study the feasibility of online learning. The committee members that TNM spoke to say that there is a lot of debate about whether online learning can match the system of classroom education. Committee members, on condition of anonymity, said that the concept of online learning violates the core normative principles of learning that are crucial for a child’s well-being. They also said that the system of online education violates the right to education and constitutional provisions on education.  “The Right to Education states that education should not induce fear or anxiety, or take an unfriendly approach to learning. And that education should be equal for all. That is the bottom-line, and the current situation does not favour this. Education is not just learning lessons from textbooks. It’s a process of socialisation, of teaching children how to establish relationships, develop a sense of fraternity. This cannot happen via online learning,” said Dr Niranjanaradhya, Senior Fellow, Centre for Child and the Law, National Law School of India University. Dr Dr Niranjanaradhya, who is also a member of the expert committee, refused to comment on the issue in his capacity as a committee member. Expert committee members say that the best place for learning is in the classroom as there is room for children to communicate with teachers, and also among themselves. “This is not true for online learning. Children might be more anxious and confused. Interactive learning via television can be a part of learning but it cannot be the only learning. It is the state’s responsibility to control the situation and start schools as early as possible while taking safety measures. When you’re opening other establishments, why not schools?” a committee member questioned.  The committee members maintained that if the government does end up pushing for online learning, then Karnataka would witness a minimum dropout rate of 30% in the next few months.  “Mid-day meals were how we drew children to schools. How is the government going to ensure that each and every child is getting quality education via online learning? We have certain baselines that cannot be compromised. With classroom learning, they have a chance to start a normal life. We may lose a huge number of children to child labour as they may end up dropping out of school. If the government continues online learning, the dropout rate will be more than 30%,” a committee member added. Committee members state that for most children in rural Karnataka, physical distancing, even within their homes, is a luxury, and by opening up schools for learning, there could be a better chance of ensuring that these children learn in a controlled environment. “But there are also parents who fear sending their children to school and that is understandable. So far, this whole debate of online learning has centred around the urbanites. No one has bothered to understand that the concept of education itself is not just learning lessons from a textbook. As a committee of experts, we’re only trying not to compromise on those ideals,” another member of the expert committee added.

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Karnataka govt fixes tariff for COVID-19 treatment at private hospitals: Full list

Coronavirus

For those patients referred to a private hospital by a public health authority- the cost per day for general ward will be Rs 5,200, while it will be higher for those who go to a private hospital directly.

TNM Staff

Representational image

The Karnataka government has fixed a tariff structure for COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals in the state. A government notification for the same was issued by Chief Secretary Vijay Bhaskar on Tuesday. Importantly, these price caps will not be applicable for the patients subscribing to insurance packages as well as for the agreements entered into between the hospitals and corporate entities. For those patients referred to a private hospital by a public health authority- the cost per day for general ward will be Rs 5,200, for high dependency wards it will be Rs 7,000, for isolated intensive care units (ICUs) will be Rs 8,500 and the same with ventilator support will be Rs 10,000. For other patients who directly go to private hospitals, general wards will cost Rs 10,000, high dependency wards will cost Rs 12,000, isolated intensive care units (ICUs) will cost Rs 15000 and the same with ventilators will cost Rs 25,000. All these costs are on a per day basis. According to data analysis by the State War Room, on average a patient needs 15 days to recover from the disease. This means the cost borne by individuals post recovery is likely to be around Rs 1,80,000 even for a patient who just needs a high dependency ward. The notification said given the unprecedented situation, all patients, irrespective of whether they belong to APL and BPL (above and below poverty level) category, including migrant workers and interstate returnees will be charged under the same rates. These costs will be inclusive of all personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other consumables. An additional 10% may be charged for twin sharing wards & 25% more for a single room. There will be no price ceiling for suites. However, in respect of unforeseen complications or surgeries and other comorbid conditions or pregnancy of CoVID-I9 patients, additional packages and pricing will apply. 50% capacity in pvt hospitals to be reserved The notification said 50% capacity of all notified private hospitals will be reserved for COVID-19 patients who are referred by government health authorities. While calculating 50% of the beds to be utilized by the Government patients, the number will be counted irrespective of the fact that the beds are located in general wards, sharing wards or in private wards, the notification said. The notification further said that the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust will be the Nodal Agency for the settlement of claims. Non-compliance of the order will attract punishment under the Disaster Management Act, warned the notification.

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In pics: A train coach turned into a cafeteria in Mysuru's Railway Museum

Pictures

The cafe can accommodate 20 people at a time with four seats per table.

TNM Staff

A unique eatery opened on Monday in Mysuru’s Rail Museum and hopes to recreate the ambience of travelling in a train while sipping coffee. The Coach Restaurant is exactly what its name says – a railway coach turned into a cafeteria. The idea was the brainchild of Aparna Garg, Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru Division. She inaugurated the restaurant which is the latest attraction at the Rail Museum which is famous for its exhibits that tell the story of Indian Railways’ history and evolution. The restaurant can accommodate 20 people at a time with four seats per table. "It gives an immediate reconnect with the train journeys. You can sit to relish hygienically prepared snacks/light refreshments and beverages like coffee and tea," a press release issued by South Western Railway said.  The coach-turned restaurant also gives customers a view of the outdoor exhibits in the rail museum like the vintage steam locomotives, level crossing gate, and a green tunnel. The museum was reopened after COVID-19 restrictions in Mysuru were lifted this month. The cafeteria set up within the museum is now an added attraction for the visitors to the museum. It will be run by South Western Railway Women’s Welfare Organization in a 'no-profit no-loss' model, Aparna said.  The museum was established by the Indian Railways in 1979. At the time, it was the second such museum in the country after the first one was set up in New Delhi.  The museum also has a gallery of photographs depicting the growth of the Indian railways. Railway signals and lights are also displayed at the museum.  It also has a rare collection of royal carriages belonging to the rulers of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom, the Wodeyars.  The museum was closed for renovation in 2018 and opened on March 14, 2020. Soon after it reopened though, the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus was imposed.

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440 containment zones in Bengaluru, 14 have more than 5 coronavirus cases each

Coronavirus

Most of Bengaluru’s active containment zones have been reported in south Bengaluru area, followed by west Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

BBMP

The number of containment zones in Bengaluru has risen to 440 and out of these, 14 have reported more than five COVID-19 patients, a bulletin by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike dated June 22 has stated. Till date, Bengaluru has reported 1,398 coronavirus cases, out of which 919 are active cases.  The highest number of cases have been reported from a containment ward in Padarayanapura, which has 67 patients. The area has four containment zones in total, and the other three zones have one case each.  Shivaji Nagar area has two containment zones, one of which has reported 46 patients. Meanwhile, Hongasandra has 11 containment zones, one of which has reported 36 cases, while other zones have between one or three cases each. Vishveshwara Puram area has 10 containment zones within the ward. Two of them have reported 27 and 8 cases respectively, the other zones have one or two cases each. SK Garden has eight containment zones, one of which has reported 16 coronavirus positive patients till date. All other zones have one patient each. Mangammanapalya area in Bengaluru has two containment zones and one of them has reported 15 patients. The other zone has one coronavirus positive patient. In two containment zones of Hagadur area in Bengaluru, six COVID-19 patients have been reported in each. One patient each has tested coronavirus positive in the other three containment zones in the area. The other containment zones which have more than five cases are in Agrahara Dasarahalli Sampangi Rama Nagar which has six cases each, and Singasandra, which has eight cases.  Most of the containment zones in Bengaluru have reported one case each. The BBMP bulletin also noted that as of June 22, 432 containment zones are active, the status of eight containment zones has been extended, and the status of 44 containment zones has returned to ‘normal’. Most of Bengaluru’s active containment zones have been reported in south Bengaluru area, followed by west Bengaluru.  In Bengaluru, the street which has the residence of the person who is found coronavirus positive is marked a containment zone. In apartments, the immediate floor above and below the residence of the patient is a containment zone. 424 containment zones in Bengaluru are streets where a positive case has been found and have been cordoned off. Forty three containment zones are apartment complexes, according to the BBMP.  Also read: What’s a containment zone? How south Indian states are defining the area

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‘Can you not permit online classes for few hours?’: HC asks Karnataka govt

Education

The Karnataka High Court was hearing a plea challenging the ban on online classes for students up to Class 5.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka High Court issued a notice to the state government, asking it to respond to a petition challenging the ban on online classes for students up to Class 5.  Though the court did not grant any interim relief, the bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Nataraj Rangaswamy remarked whether the state can hold online classes for a few hours till the expert committee forms guidelines on the same. “Can you (state government) completely deny the opportunity of learning to these students?" the bench asked, as per a report in Bar and Bench.  The plea filed by Anumitha Sharma and 22 others from Bengaluru noted that the government had no alternative to online classes, and was instead proposing classes via television and Youtube, which is not very different from online classes. The government’s counsel told the court that the classes were suspended till an expert committee submits guidelines on the conduct of online classes and how technology can be used to impart education, with schools being shut due to the coronavirus pandemic. The government has asked for time till Friday to respond to the HC’s questions and said that the expert committee has been given 15 days and the guidelines will come soon. According to LiveLaw, the court granted time but also asked the state to elaborate on the measures it had taken or will be taking to ensure that students in rural areas too, get the benefit of online classes if and when they begin. "Online education has limitations in rural areas. The state will have to address it...Solution must be found out or else this will create a chaotic situation," the bench remarked. The matter has been posted for June 26 for further hearing and the state has been asked to submit a response by then. TNM previously reported that the parents of students enrolled in private schools have opposed the ban on online classes. A city teacher had also pointed out that private schools had spent huge amounts of money on software to enable online classes, and thus would face losses if the ban on online classes continued. Read: Parents do 'tweetstorm' to oppose Karnataka ban on online classes

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