Mangaluru: Special school teachers and non-teaching staff from across Karnataka will stage a statewide protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on January 28, alleging prolonged delays in funding and an inadequate response from the government to their long-pending demands. The protest is being organised by the Karnataka State Special Teachers and Non-Teaching Staff Association along with the Karnataka State Federation for the Differently Abled.
The organisations operate special schools catering to children with intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities, specific learning disabilities, as well as hearing and visual impairments. Teachers, non-teaching staff, parents, and intellectually disabled adults above 25 years of age are expected to participate in the protest, with an estimated turnout of 2,000 to 2,500 representatives from across the state.
Limited grant coverage under old policy
Addressing reporters on Thursday, association state secretary Vasanth Kumar Shetty said that only 34 special schools currently receive grants under the 1982 grant policy. A large number of special schools run by non-profit organisations continue to function without any financial support from the government, despite catering to vulnerable sections of society.
He said that while these schools play a crucial role in providing education and rehabilitation services, the lack of consistent funding has placed immense financial strain on institutions as well as staff members.
Child-centric scheme and pay disparity
Shetty explained that the Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens introduced a new grant policy in 2010–11 called the Child-Centric Assistance Scheme. Under this scheme, financial assistance was extended to around 166 special schools across the state.
However, he alleged that the scheme resulted in wide disparities in salaries between teachers working under different grant frameworks. According to him, the honorarium for special teachers under the child-centric scheme was Rs 6,500 per month in 2010–11, which was increased to Rs 13,500 in 2014–15 and further to Rs 20,250 in 2022.
In contrast, teachers working in special schools funded under the 1982 grant policy earn salaries ranging between Rs 60,000 and Rs 80,000 per month. “This disparity exists despite teachers performing the same nature of work and possessing similar qualifications,” Shetty said.
Allegations of funding instability and delays
Shetty further alleged that funding under the child-centric scheme is discontinued if student enrolment falls below prescribed norms, leaving schools and teachers vulnerable. He also claimed that salaries under the scheme are often delayed by several months, causing financial hardship to staff members who depend solely on this income.
He referred to an evaluation report submitted in July 2016 by a STEM institution based in Koramangala, Bengaluru, which was commissioned by the department. According to Shetty, the report found that schools receiving child-centric assistance performed better than government-funded schools in several parameters.
Despite this, he alleged that policy decisions have not reflected the findings of the evaluation report.
Concerns over trained teachers’ future
Shetty also raised concerns about the discontinuation of funding for around 176 special teachers trained under the Multi-Category Teacher Training (MCTT) programme. He said the department had abruptly stopped funding their positions.
While the government has allowed an extension of their services for two years from the academic year 2025–26, Shetty stressed that this was only a temporary measure. He demanded that concrete steps be taken to regularise their services after they complete short-term Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) training.
Key demands of the association
The association has put forth a series of demands ahead of the protest. A major demand is the extension of equal benefits to teachers and non-teaching staff working under the child-centric scheme, on par with those under the 1982 grant policy, based on the principle of “equal pay for equal work”.
Another key demand is the approval of a proposal to increase funding for state special schools by 40 per cent, following discussions held with Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader. The association has also called for the implementation of full financial benefits for special teachers in state special schools in line with a Supreme Court order.
Structural reforms sought
In addition to financial issues, the association has demanded structural reforms in the child-centric scheme. These include revising the scheme guidelines every five years through consultations with experts from selected special schools, and ensuring that grants are disbursed in two instalments annually, in June and October, to avoid cash flow issues.
The association has also urged the government to authorise and fund professional and pre-professional institutions for youths above 25 years of age with disabilities in every district, to ensure continuity of care and skill development beyond school education.
Conclusion
The organisers said the January 28 protest is intended to draw the government’s attention to systemic issues affecting special education in the state. They warned that unless concrete steps are taken to address funding delays, pay disparities and service regularisation, the quality of education and care provided to children and adults with disabilities could be severely impacted.