Students, parents and people from different walks of life participating in the taluk-level ‘Save Public Education Convention’ at Channagiri in Davangere district on Thursday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Scores of students, parents and people from different walks of life on Thursday participated in the taluk-level ‘Save Public Education Convention’ held under the auspices of the All-India Democratic Students’ Organization (AIDSO) at Channagiri in Davangere district to protest against the state government’s proposal to close government schools under the KPS Magnet School scheme.
At a convention held at Lohia Bhavan in Channagiri, AIDSO State Vice President Abhaya Divakar alleged that all service sectors have been privatized and taken away from the common people. Government schools in collaboration with private companies were run under the name of PPP (Public-Private Partnership), he said.
He said that a loan of ₹2,500 crore was received from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under which the official order stated that KPS Magnet schools would be established under the ADB loan scheme.
He urged the state government to immediately cancel the ‘KPS Magnet School’ scheme and issue an official order stating that government schools will not be closed.
National leader of All India Mahila Samskrutik Sanghatan Aparna BR said that education for every child was possible only through government schools as envisioned by all the great personalities of the country.
Lingadahalli village Save Public Education Committee chairman Chandrahasa said it was a shameful act of the government that it was ready to close down government schools but not liquor shops that were ruining thousands of families.
Committee for Protection of Public Education president Gurushantappa said politicians who run private schools across the state are trying to close down government schools for their own gain.
District President Pooja Nandihalli presided over the convention while District Organizer HD Gangadhar delivered the opening remarks.
At the convention, it was decided that on March 5, committee members from all the taluks of the district, along with many others, would meet in Davangere for a massive district-level protest. Committee officials Ajjayya, Mantaraghatta Belurappa, Honnappa, activists Basavapura Ranganath, Kubendra Swamy, Nataraj and parents from 30 villages participated in the protest.
Published – 12 Feb 2026 19:18 IST