Karnataka school merger plan under scrutiny as AIDSO seeks written assurance on closures

The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO), Karnataka State Committee, has asked the State Government to issue a written order confirming that government schools will not be closed. The demand follows Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa’s statement in the Belagavi session on December 8 that no government school would be shut.

In its press release, AIDSO said the Minister termed the reports of school closures as incorrect. The organisation cited the Department of School Education and Literacy circular dated October 15, which directed the merger of surrounding schools with low enrolment with Karnataka Public School (KPS) Magnet Schools.

According to AIDSO, merger instructions based on the October 15 circular have already reached several schools at the Gram Panchayat level. The committee referred to the Minister’s statement that one KPS Magnet School is being set up in each Gram Panchayat and said this indicates that the government is proceeding with the same order that includes the merger clause.

“Accordingly, orders to merge surrounding schools have already been issued to several schools at the Gram Panchayat level that are being upgraded to KPS schools. As the Minister himself stated in the session, KPS Magnet Schools are being opened one per Gram Panchayat, meaning the government is proceeding according to its own departmental order,” the official notice said.

Also read 19,518 unrecognised schools in India; highest in Jharkhand, Bihar: Education ministry

Confusion over minister’s assurance and merger orders

AIDSO stated that the difference between the Minister’s assurance and the government’s order has created confusion. It asked the State Government to withdraw the merger provision and issue a written directive confirming that schools with low enrolment will not be closed under the merger process.

The issue follows earlier claims raised by AIDSO in December 2025 regarding the Karnataka Public School (KPS) Magnet Scheme. A circular dated October 15, 2025, identified 800 schools for upgradation in the first phase, and district-level orders had listed schools proposed for merger within specified radii.

A separate state-level document had listed 474 schools identified for merger across districts. Villagers in several areas had opposed the move, saying existing schools should be retained and improved. AIDSO had also said that the merger plan could affect thousands of government schools and pre-university colleges. It questioned the State Government’s repeated statement that no school would be closed, citing the merger lists and orders issued at various levels.