Demonstration against closure of govt. schools; outrage against KPS Magnet Scheme

A demonstration against the closure of 1,666 government schools across Mysuru district under the KPS Magnet scheme was held at Town Hall in the city on Sunday.

Several parents, students, and villagers from across the district participated in the demonstration organised by the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO).

Speaking on the occasion, State vice-president of AIDSO Chandrakala recalled that the previous BJP government attempted to close 13,800 government schools in the name of ‘merger’. Now, the present Congress government is moving to close 40,000 schools across the State under the KPS Magnet Scheme, she said. 

“The ultimate goal of all governments is to shut down government schools and snatch education away from poor students. The government is opening KPS Magnet schools by taking a loan of ₹2,500 crore from the Asian Development Bank. Has the government reached such a dire state that it must take loans from private banks to run government schools? Is the tax we pay not enough?” she questioned.

She further alleged that the government is conspiring to privatise government schools by outsourcing KPS Magnet schools. She noted that the KPS Magnet project violates the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which mandates a primary school within a one-kilometre radius of every habitation.

Retired professor of Sociology at Maharaja College, Kalachannegowda, said Kannada schools must exist in every village.

Currently, 62,000 teachers’ posts are vacant in the State, over 7,000 schools have only a single teacher, and more than 23,000 government school buildings are in need of repair. “By failing to provide basic infrastructure and letting schools wither away, the government is closing them through the back door,” he said.

Farmers’ leader from Nanjangud, Hejjige Prakash, condemned the closure of schools in rural areas. “People must protest wherever schools are being shut down,” he said.

Another farmer’s leader, Marankaiah, said the government’s claim that it will provide buses to KPS Magnet schools after closing local schools is mere “hypocrisy”.

Representatives from the Committee to Save Public Education were also present on the occasion, along with AIDSO Mysuru district secretary Nitin, vice-president Swathi and other office bearers.