3,617 govt. schools closed in Karnataka between 2020-21 and 2025-26

While the Karnataka government claims that no government school has been closed in the State, two sources of official data indicate that as many as 3,617 government schools were shut down between 2020-21 and 2025-26. 

Data tabled by the Union Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha on February 4, in response to a question raised by a CPI(M) member John Brittas regarding school closures across the country, shows that 947 government schools shut down between 2020-21 and 2024-25. It came down from 49,791 in 2020-21 to 48,844 in 2024-25. 

DSEL data

Further, an October 15, 2025, order by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL), Karnataka, on establishing Karnataka Public Schools, pegs the number of government schools in the State at 46,174, indicating a drastic decline. Data for 2025-26, which saw the largest closures, pegged at 2,670, is not part of the data tabled in the Rajya Sabha.

DSEL Minister Madhu Bangarappa had earlier claimed in the Karnataka Legislature session that no government school had been permanently closed in 2025-26, but only temporarily shut. 

The enrolment of students in government schools in the State has declined from 47.1 lakh in 2015-16 to 38.2 lakh in 2025-26, recording a decline of 19%. The share of government schools in the total enrolment has declined from 46% to 38%.

During the same period, enrolment in private unaided schools increased from 36.3 lakh to 47 lakh, recording an increase of 29%. The number of government schools with an enrolment of 50 or less students has increased to 25,683 in 2025-26. This trend clearly indicates why government schools were shutting down year on year. 

Private schools

However, data tabled by the Union Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha shows that even the number of private unaided schools have decreased in Karnataka — from 19,915 in 2020-21 to 19,105 in 2024-25. Data for 2025-26 is not available in the public domain.

Private schools that have not been renewed for Recognition Renewal (RR) are included in the closed schools list, sources said, explaining the anomaly, but also indicating the mushrooming of schools without regulation.

“This year, about 98% of private schools in the State have not renewed their RRs. In addition, schools that have not appointed qualified teachers under the RTE Act and those that have not obtained the religious and linguistic minority certificate from National Commission for Minorities, will not be renewed,” explained developmental educationist V.P. Niranjanaradhya. 

Funds down

“Education is on the concurrent list. Unless a State gets substantial funds from the Union government, none can improve public education. But, year on year, allocation for education from the Union government is declining. Whatever the funds are released, they put a lot of conditions in the name of PM Shree schools, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Unless you comply with the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), funds are not released. RTE is a Central legislation. The share of Central and State funds for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which was 90:10 earlier, has now come down to 60:40. This should be reversed,” he said.