Bengaluru: Karnataka govt has approved the introduction of separate lower kindergarten (LKG) and upper kindergarten (UKG) classes in 581 state-run schools for the current academic year.The approval follows an earlier govt sanction in July 2024 to introduce pre-primary classes in 500 schools run by the state.The state-wide initiative will be funded entirely through Samagra Shikshana scheme. Each school will have one section each of LKG and UKG in bilingual medium, with a maximum of 40 children in each section. However, a minimum enrolment of 10 children is mandatory for a section to be opened.Schools that fail to meet the minimum enrolment requirement will have to defer classes to the next academic year.Children aged 4-5 years will be eligible for LKG. Classes will be conducted from 10 am to 3.30 pm, with Balachetana bilingual activity books and play-based learning activities forming part of the curriculum.Students of these pre-primary classes will be provided midday meals, milk under Ksheera Bhagya scheme and supplementary nutrition, including eggs, officials said.Govt has also approved the engagement of two teachers — one each for LKG and UKG — and a helper in every school on a temporary contractual basis for 10 months. Teachers will receive an honorarium of Rs 12,000 per month, while helpers will be paid Rs 6,250 per month.To be eligible for the teacher posts, candidates must have passed PU with at least 50% marks and hold a National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)-recognised professional qualification of at least two years. These include diploma in nursery teacher education, pre-school teacher education, diploma in early childhood education or BEd (nursery).The maximum age limit for teachers is 45 years.