Despite opposition, the Karnataka government has issued orders to start 700 government schools across the State as KPS Magnet Schools in the next two years.
The government had announced that it will start 900 KPS Magnet Schools across the States.
Out of this, steps have been taken to develop 500 KPS Magnet Schools in 2025-26 and 2026-27, under the State Budget grant and an Asian Development Bank loan, and an order in this regard was issued on October 15, 2025. In Kalyana Karnataka, it has been decided to upgrade 200 KPS Magnet Schools with the grant of the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB), and an order in this regard was issued on November 29, 2025. The government has decided to develop each school at a cost of ₹2 crore to ₹4 crore.
There are about 47,493 government schools and pre-university colleges in Karnataka. Of these, 19,603 are primary schools, 21,676 are upper primary schools, 4,895 are high schools, and 1,319 are pre-university colleges. Currently, 309 schools have a combined system from LKG to class 12.
The enrolment of students in government schools has declined from 47.1 lakh in 2015-16 to 38.2 lakh in 2025-26 (19% less). The share of government schools in the total enrolment has declined from 46% to 38%. However, the share of private unaided schools has increased from 36.3 lakh students in 2015-16 to 47 lakh (29%) in 2025-26. The number of government schools with an enrolment of 50 or less students has increased to 25,683 in 2025-26.
The current gross enrolment ratio (GER) is 98.65% in the lower primary, 99.79% in the upper primary, and 96.08% in high schools. The drop-out rate is 2.50% in lower primary, 2.91% in upper primary, and 22.88% in high schools.
It has been observed that there is a significant decrease in the number of students progressing to the high school level from the primary stage.
“In this context, one reform strategy that has been initiated to improve the quality of student learning and increase student enrollment is the KPS Magnet Schools. These schools provide education from pre-primary to class 12 under one roof. The KPS scheme, which started with 176 schools in 2018-19, has now been extended to 309 schools across the State,” reads the order.
School merger
KPS Magnet Schools have been identified in each cluster using a scoring method based on grade coverage, enrolment, location, and infrastructure. It aims to create composite and resource schools with a minimum strength of 1,200 students to address the problems of small schools.
It has been decided to merge small government schools within a radius of 1 to 5 km and transfer all their teachers to KPS Magnet Schools. Vehicle facilities will be provided to bring the children to these schools.
The government has also taken necessary steps to amend the cadre and recruitment rules of teachers and lecturers to theses schools and stated that these schools will be strengthened by outsourcing school management, allowing schools to raise fund from their own sources, providing fund collection options, and establishing school management committees.
Opposition
But there has been strong opposition from the public, student organisations, and educationists to the merger.
The government’s move to merge seven government schools in the vicinity with the KPS Magnet School in Honganuru, Channapatna taluk, Bengaluru South district, as a pilot project has been strongly opposed by the locals, and protests have intensified.
School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa, in his reply in the Belagavi session on Monday, said that no government school in the State will be closed. “We will continue the government school even if there is one student. KPS Magnet Schools are being started for quality education,” he added.
Student organisations have urged the government to issue an official order in this regard. “The government’s orders say one thing, and the Minister’s statement says another. What should the public believe? The State government should immediately withdraw the merger clause mentioned in its orders and issue a written order promising that schools with low enrolment will not be closed in the name of merging,” said Ajay Kamath, State secretary, AIDSO.
The All India Save Education Committee too has demanded the withdrawal of the orders.
Published – December 09, 2025 07:02 pm IST
