AIDSO activists staging a demonstration at Thimmapur Circle in Kalaburagi on Friday, holding placards and raising slogans against the proposed closure of government schools. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) staged protests in Kalaburagi and Ballari on Friday, opposing the Karnataka government’s proposed KPS Magnet school policy, which the organisation alleged would lead to the closure of around 45,000 government schools across the State.The protests were held at Thimmapur Circle in Kalaburagi and OPD Circle in Ballari. The demonstrators condemned the Congress government for allegedly moving ahead with the policy despite strong public opposition and demanded that it withdraw the proposal and protect the public education system.Addressing the protesters in Kalaburagi, AIDSO district president Tuljaram N.K. alleged that the government, which had promised to protect government schools before coming to power, was now preparing to close thousands of them in the name of the KPS Magnet scheme and implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
He claimed that the conditions mentioned in the loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) clearly indicated the proposed changes. AIDSO activists staging a protest at OPD Circle in Ballari on Friday, opposing the proposed closure of 45,000 government schools under the KPS Magnet scheme. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT AIDSO State treasurer Subhash Bettadakoppa, speaking at the Ballari protest, also criticised the government for allegedly accepting conditions that would undermine the public education system.
He questioned how the Congress could claim to be protecting democracy while pursuing a policy that, according to the organisation, would deprive children from poor families of access to government schools.The speakers alleged that the ADB-linked conditions envisaged the merger of all government schools around school clusters into a single institution by 2030; financial support from corporate companies for the management of KPS Magnet schools; and a curriculum designed to prepare students as a workforce suited to the needs of those companies. They also claimed that future teacher recruitment would be restricted to KPS schools and that the government would stop providing grants to these schools after 2030.The protesters expressed concern that the policy would leave only 4,038 schools functioning in Karnataka while resulting in the closure of around 45,000 government schools.
They alleged that the State’s education policy was increasingly being shaped by foreign financial institutions and corporate interests rather than by educationists and intellectuals from Karnataka.Abdul Waheed, president of the district committee for the protection of public education, also addressed the Kalaburagi protest. In Ballari, S.G.
Nagarathna, vice-president of the committee, said the proposed policy posed a serious threat to public education and called for a united struggle to protect government schools.Referring to the 200th birth anniversary of social reformer Jyotiba Phule, the speakers said protecting public education was a historic responsibility and warned that the organisation would intensify its agitation against the policy.The Kalaburagi protest was presided over by AIDSO district secretary Venkatesh Devadurga. District vice-presidents Radha Preeti Doddamani and Govind Yalawar, Nagaraj Ravoor, and other members and activists participated.In Ballari, the protest was presided over by district secretary Kambali Manjunath.
AIDSO district president K. Eranna, vice-president M.
Shanthi, district treasurer Anupama, office secretary Niharika, members Kantesh and Thippeswamy, and hundreds of students took part. Published - November 07, 2026 12:38 am IST