Statewide Protests Mount As Karnataka’s Education Policy Sparks Fears Of Mass Government School Closures
40,000 ಶಾಲೆಗಳ ವಿಲೀನ–ಮುಚ್ಚುವಿಕೆ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ: ಎನ್ಇಪಿ 2020 ಮತ್ತು ಎಡಿಬಿ ಸಾಲದ ಷರತ್ತುಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ಗಂಭೀರ ಆಕ್ಷೇಪ
Bengaluru: A sweeping state government initiative to establish “KPS Magnet Schools” has ignited a fierce debate over the future of public education in Karnataka, with critics alleging the plan will lead to the effective shutdown of nearly 40,000 existing government schools and accelerate the privatization of the sector.
The ‘Save Education Committee,’ a prominent advocacy group, has sounded the alarm, framing the impending policy shift as an existential crisis for accessible education. “This is a question of the survival of public education,” said V.N. Rajashekhar, State Vice-President of the committee. “We must save public education to save education itself.”
The Magnet School Model: Consolidation or Closure?
At the heart of the controversy is the government’s plan to open one KPS Magnet School in each of the state’s 6,000 Gram Panchayats, ostensibly by upgrading select existing government schools. While the committee states it does not oppose the concept of KPS schools, it vehemently objects to the proposed merger model.
“The core issue is the government’s plan to merge five to eight surrounding government schools with each KPS Magnet School,” explained Rajashekhar. “This merger effectively means the shutdown of those surrounding schools. These government schools serve the children of the poor, farmers, and laborers, especially girls. Closing them would exclude millions of children from their right to education.”
Based on this merger formula, the committee projects a catastrophic reduction in public institutions. “If 8 to 10 schools merge into each KPS school, it implies approximately 40,000 government schools will be shut down,” Rajashekhar stated. “This policy suggests the state will only be directly responsible for 6,000 Magnet Schools, effectively telling millions of children to seek education in private schools if they can afford it.”
Contradictions and a Call for Clarity
The committee has pointed to apparent contradictions in the government’s stance. While Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa has publicly denied any plans to close government schools, critics cite specific departmental orders and legislative moves that suggest otherwise.
Rajashekhar highlighted an order from the Education Department to merge seven schools in Channapatna’s Honganuru for a KPS School. “If no schools are closing, why is there a need for a special bill in the upcoming Belagavi session to decide the fate of government school buildings?” he questioned. “The minister says closed school buildings will not be left vacant but given to registered organizations. Why is this necessary if no schools are closing? The public is left wondering which statement to believe.”
Linking Policy to National Agenda and Privatization Fears
The committee frames the state’s move as an implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which they claim recommends the consolidation and closure of government schools. “The closure of government schools is a policy of the central government,” Rajashekhar asserted. He expressed dismay that both the central BJP and the state Congress governments appear aligned on this approach.
A major point of contention is the allocation of significant resources to the new Magnet Schools at the perceived expense of the existing network. “The government is allocating ₹2,000 crore to 700 KPS Magnet Schools, giving ₹2-4 crore to each, instead of distributing the funds among 40,000 schools for overall improvement,” Rajashekhar noted. “These funds are for building construction, not for teacher recruitment or basic facilities. Eventually, these Magnet Schools will need to self-fund, transitioning into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and becoming corporate schools handed over to corporate entities.”
Building a Movement to “Save Education”
Faced with what they see as a cross-party consensus on the issue, the Save Education Committee is mobilizing for a broad-based public movement. The committee is forming local units in villages and plans a major state-level educational convention in Bengaluru next week, bringing together educationists, writers, teachers, and parents.
“We urge education experts, writers, and teachers to join this struggle,” Rajashekhar said. “We plan to build a massive statewide movement by collaborating with like-minded organizations. All political parties are united in implementing NEP and closing government schools. It is now imperative for the public to unite and protest to save government education.”
As the government prepares for the legislative session in Belagavi, the stage is set for a significant confrontation over the fundamental direction of Karnataka’s education system, with the fate of thousands of schools and the educational access of millions of children hanging in the balance.
Key Quotes
(V.N. Rajashekhar, Vice-President, Save Education Committee)
On the Stakes & Principle:
-
“This is a question of the survival of public education. We must save public education to save education itself.”
-
“Closing these schools would exclude millions of children from their right to education. These government schools serve the children of the poor, farmers, and laborers, especially girls.”
-
“It is now imperative for the public to unite and protest to save government education. All political parties are united in implementing this policy. The people must speak.”
On the Policy & Contradiction:
4. “The merger effectively means the shutdown. The government’s plan is not just to open new schools, but to close old ones by another name.”
5. “This policy suggests the state will only be directly responsible for 6,000 schools, effectively telling millions of children: ‘Go private if you can afford it.’”
6. “Why is a bill needed to decide the fate of school buildings if no schools are closing? The public is left wondering which government statement to believe.“
On Funding & Privatization Fears:
7. “Why allocate ₹2,000 crore to 700 elite schools instead of strengthening 40,000? This is not about improvement; it’s about picking winners and abandoning the rest.”
8. “These Magnet Schools will eventually need to self-fund, transitioning into a Public-Private Partnership model. The endgame is clear: they become corporate schools handed over to corporate entities.”
9. “The funds are for building construction, not for teacher recruitment or basic facilities for every child. It’s a real estate plan disguised as an education policy.”
