AIDSO organises protest convention against closing of 13,800 government schools in Karnataka

NEW DELHI: The All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) organised a protest convention in the background of "save public education day" against the Karnataka state government's decision to close 13,800 government schools. According to a statement from AIDSO, students urged that government schools are their right and if the government tries to close the school, then they will intensify the struggle. The protest convention was held at at UVCE Alumni association hall, KR circle.

Slogans like "save government schools", "We don't allow the closure of government schools" were used by the protesting students, claimed AIDSO. "Our constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. But NEP proposes to design the whole education system according to the ancient Indian ethos and traditions. That means the system which had kept majority population out of education. Our students must not be taught any such things" educational expert Niranjanaradhya said addressing the protesting students. "Now under the NEP, the government is set to close down government schools and we should reject this outrightly," he added.

Also read | UP: Basic technology labs are bringing dropouts, child labourers back to school

VN Rajashekhar, all-India president of AIDSO said, "On the occasion of the death anniversary of great secular humanist Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, students across the state have taken up the movement with the determination to save government educational institutions under the leadership of AIDSO, which is the need of the hour". He accused the BJP government of formulating educational policies aligned with the Sangh Parivar ideology. According to him, the National Education Policy - 2020 was implemented with the intention of wiping out the democratic, secular elements, ideals of great men, scientific spirit in education. "Now the government is all set to close 13,800 government schools in the state under this policy. It is highly condemnable. Instead of increasing funding to government educational institutions, developing basic facilities, appointing necessary teachers and encouraging education, the government is set to demolish schools! We will not allow a single government school to close in the state. If there is an attempt to close the school, our struggle will intensify".

Rajashekhar further said that the students and people of Delhi have supported the ongoing signature campaign as part of the Save Public Education campaign by giving lakhs of signatures. He further said that the organisation will develop a strong movement against the anti-poor, anti-student, anti-education policies of the government in the future.