AIDSO and the Save Public Education Committee allege the Karnataka government is pushing a dangerous education policy targeting rural government schools
Bengaluru: Strong opposition is mounting against the Karnataka government’s KPS Magnet School policy, with student organisations, education activists and villagers alleging that the scheme is part of a larger plan to shut down more than 40,000 government schools across the state.
At a press conference held in Bengaluru on Tuesday, the All India Democratic Students Organisation Karnataka State Committee and the Save Public Education Committee accused the government of forcefully implementing the KPS Magnet School model in Ramanagara Taluk of Bengaluru South district despite growing resistance from villagers and parents.
The organizations claimed that for the past six months, widespread protests and awareness campaigns have been conducted across several rural clusters under the banner “Save Our Neighborhood School.”
Villages including Madarasabaradoddi, Chikkegowdanadoddi, Harisandra, Thimmegowdanadoddi, Palabovidoddi, Hanumanthegowdanadoddi, Kempegowdanadoddi, Irulugeredoddi, Mellahalli, Ammanapuradoddi, Devaradoddi, Kotahalli, Nelamale, K.G. Hosahalli, Tenginakallu, Akkuru, Chikkaganganavadi and Doddaganganavadi have reportedly witnessed protest meetings opposing the policy.
“The government is trying to shut down nearby village schools by aggressively pushing the Magnet School project. Parents are being pressured to sign enrollment documents using misleading information,” alleged Apoorva CM, Vice President of AIDSO Karnataka.
AIDSO Alleges Forced Enrollment in Magnet Schools
Addressing the media, Apoorva CM claimed that three Magnet schools have already been opened in Ramanagara Taluk and preparations are underway to close more than 40 surrounding government schools.
According to her, infrastructure for the schools has reportedly been developed with the support of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, while several meetings involving district authorities, elected representatives and company officials have allegedly been held to accelerate implementation.
She further alleged that even though local communities have continuously strengthened their village schools and opposed the project for months, the government has refused to reconsider the policy.
Apoorva also claimed that the Magnet school established at Honganuru has not delivered the expected results and that teachers from neighboring government schools are allegedly being pressured to divert students there to project the scheme as successful.
Former Hampi University Vice Chancellor Slams School Closure Plan
Speaking at the press conference, A Murigeppa strongly criticized the proposal to close government schools in the name of low student strength and infrastructure shortages.
“Closing government schools instead of addressing the reasons behind falling enrollment is highly condemnable. The government should strengthen every village school rather than implementing destructive policies,” he said.
Murigeppa argued that grants and welfare department collaborations could be utilized to improve infrastructure and educational quality in government schools across Karnataka.
He further demanded that the government upgrade every village government school into a quality Karnataka Public School instead of establishing centralized Magnet schools far away from rural habitations.
Demand to Withdraw Karnataka KPS Magnet Policy
Education activists and farmer leaders present at the event demanded the immediate withdrawal of the KPS Magnet policy and called for greater investment in public education infrastructure at the grassroots level.
