Students along with members of the All India Democratic Students Organization stage a protest in Dharwad on Friday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Alleging that the state government threatened the existence of over 25,000 government schools with its proposal to merge neighboring schools under the Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) magnet system, students along with members of the All India Democratic Students Organization (AIDSO) staged a protest in Dharwad on Friday.
Students who gathered at Vivekanand Circle in Dharwad registered their protest by staging a demonstration and said the government’s move would lead to the closure of several thousand government schools.
AIDSO district secretary Shashikala Meti told the protesters that 800 schools have been designated as magnet schools as per the government order.
“This will mean that schools with less than 50 admissions, which are within 1 km to 5 km radius of Karnataka Public Schools, will be merged with the others, meaning these schools will be closed,” she said.
She pointed to the government’s order to merge seven primary schools in Honganur of Channapattana taluk with the proposed KPS magnet school in Honganur and expressed anger at the closure of schools with over 110 students in the name of merger.
Ms. Shashikala Meti clarified that AIDSO is not against the opening of KPS magnet schools but only against the closure of government schools in the name of merger.
Already, students in many villages have been forced to stage protests due to lack of proper bus facility and in that case students living in remote villages will be deprived of education, she said.
AIDSO District President Sindhu Koudi, Vice President Chandru and other office bearers including Sphoorti, Siddu, Ravi and others led the protest.
Published – 21 Nov 2025 20:43 IST
