Students in Government schools may not suffer from shortage of teachers by June next year. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti on Thursday said that Government planned to recruit 12,000 teachers in 10 months.

Speaking at the award presentation ceremony of the Karnataka Learning Partnership, a joint initiative of Akshara Foundation and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Horatti said that 4,868 teachers will be recruited within one week. Finance Department has approved recruitment of another 6,900 teachers. However, there will still be a shortage of 2000 teachers. Further, the Government was also planning to recruit teachers in advance for the vacancies created by the teachers, who will retire by 2010,

"Government spends Rs. 4,200 per child every year including teachers' salary, mid-day meal, uniforms, and books and building maintenance. A study says that Karnataka is not in a good position when it comes to education," Education Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar said.

75,000 CANNOT READ: An evaluation, jointly conducted by Akshara Foundation and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 1410 Government primary schools in Bangalore, has found that 75,000 children cannot read. After Akshara Foundation, in association with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, started "Karnataka Learning Partnership" three months ago, 64 per cent of these students learned to read. He said that this initiative will be extended all over the State.