The Shivamogga district unit of the All India Democratic Students’ Organization (AIDSO) has alleged that the state government is planning to close thousands of schools in the name of opening new Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) as part of the Magnet School Scheme.
At a press conference in Shivamogga on December 3, Vinay Chandra, district coordinator, said the education department had prepared a list of schools to be closed. Among them are 1,518 schools of Shivamogga district. “Gradually, instead of 46,000 schools in the state, only 6,000 KPS will function. The plan is to close 40,000 schools across the state. The list of schools selected for closure is as strong as 500. Where do such schools need to be closed?” he asked.
He recalled that Madhu Bangarappa, the education minister, had declared that he would not close a single school in the state. In reality, however, the process of closing schools has begun. As part of the pilot project, a school at Honganur in Channapatna taluk of south Bengaluru has been identified as a KPS Magnet School. The government has already decided to merge six schools with KPS. “The selected schools have strengths from 20 to 100. The government wants to implement the same model across the state,” he said.
AIDSO, the coordinator said, will fight the closure of schools and involve parents and villagers in the movement.
Published – 03 Dec 2025 18:42 IST
