Karnataka Hijab Controversy: Congress minister said – Orders cannot be changed just like that, have to follow the law
School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa talks to Sanath Prasad on the state government’s plan to revise school textbooks, the hijab controversy and challenges facing the state’s education system.
Madhu Bangarappa, MLA from Karnataka’s Sorab constituency and Minister of School Education in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, with Sanath Prasad on the state government’s plan to revise school textbooks, the controversy over the hijab and the challenges facing the state’s education system Have conversation. Madhu Bangarappa is the son of former Chief Minister of Karnataka S Bangarappa.
Question: What is your main focus as the school education minister of the state?
Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa replies: I will have to get the data to know my priorities. It hasn’t even been 48 hours since I took over as the Education Minister. I started my duties today by welcoming the students back to school and putting them at ease.
Question: What are the plans for the revision of school textbooks, as promised by the (Congress) in its election manifesto?
Answer: Old textbooks have to be changed – we have already cleared this in our manifesto. The amendments introduced by the BJP have to be changed, and it will be changed in the interest of the students. However, I do not want to reveal what aspects will change. We already have a framework in place to make the change and it will be done soon.
Necessary amendments are already underway under the supervision of the Chief Minister. They are being regularly informed about this. Whatever has to be done will be done to safeguard the education of the children in the interest of their future.
Q: How are you going to deal with the hijab controversy? Would you overturn a government order banning the hijab?
We cannot just change the government order on hijab. We have to follow the law. The law department will look into the matter and a decision will be taken.
There was no need to suddenly ban the hijab when everything was going well. BJP messed it up by politicizing the issue. Since the matter is sub judice, I do not want to comment much on it.
Question: What are the main challenges before the State Education Department?
Answer : Department infrastructure needs improvement. There are also very good teachers in the department. We have to give them the confidence and belief to perform better. We also need funds to boost infrastructure.
