Mysuru: Is the State’s first women’s teacher training institute going to enter the pages of history? This is the question that has arisen. The answer seems to be a distinct yes, as the Primary and Secondary Education Department has recommended to close the Government Maharani Teachers Training Institute started by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar 90 years ago.

The Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT) has made this recommendation and in the light of this, the Government Maharani Teachers Training Institute located on Narayana Shastry Road is likely to be closed down.

The reason for this recommendation is said to be the drop in admission to the Institute. Meanwhile, all efforts are being made by the Institute’s Principal and the teachers to save the Institute. They have printed about 5,000 pamphlets providing information about the courses on offer and the facilities in the institute and distributed it in different parts of the district.

The Institute established in 1928 has produced thousands of trained teachers till now. Such a well-known institute is now on the verge of closure. The Institute is not only meant for Scheduled Caste/Tribes, Backward Classes but also to the people from poor background with aspirations of becoming teachers and earning livelihood.

However, directions have been given to close the Institute by 2018-19 May-June end. Along with this, six other Government Institutes have also been recommended to be closed down. Including Kalaburagi Government Teachers Training Institute for Women and Government Teachers Training Institute for Men, the training institutes in Chitradurga, Dharwad, Raichur and Tumakuru are likely to be closed.

Speaking to Star of Mysore regarding the closure of Government Maharani Teachers Training Institute, DSERT Director H.N. Gopalakrishna said that since the number of teacher trainees admission has gone down, the recommendation has been done. There are five Teachers Training institutes in Mysuru including this one and the admissions have dwindled in all these places. As a result, the Government Maharani Teachers Training Institute has been asked to shut.

Grants misused

There were allegations that the grants were being misused in spite of lack of trainees and hence the Accountant General’s Office had raised objections to the misuse of funds. In this background the admissions for the last three years were checked and then the recommendation for closure made. Since the funds and facilities must be properly utilised this step was inevitable, he said.

Not restricted to teaching alone

At the Government Maharani Teachers Training Institute,  there are 19 trainees in the first year and 13 in the second year. Including the Professors and Lecturers, there are 11 teachers and in Physical Education, Music and Arts, there are one teacher each. Including the Principal there are six staff in the Administrative Office of the Institute. The teaching is not limited to just Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed). Along with this training is given in English Proficiency and Teachers Education Test (TET). Besides there is free computer training, yoga, meditation and mind-control training, said Nanjundaswamy, Principal, Government Maharani Teachers Training Institute

By  M.B. Pavan Murthy