The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) Mysuru district committee has urged the State government to issue a clear written order assuring that no government school in Karnataka will be closed under any circumstances.
The demand follows Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa’s statement in the Belagavi legislative session on December 8, where he reiterated that the government has no plans to shut down any government school and dismissed the allegations as baseless.
Contradicting the Minister’s claim, AIDSO, in a statement here, pointed out that the Department of School Education and Literacy had issued a circular on October 15 directing that government schools with low student enrolment should be merged with nearby Karnataka Public School (KPS) Magnet Schools. The organisation noted that several such instructions have already been issued at the gram panchayat level for schools identified for upgradation to KPS Magnet Schools.
“When the Minister says one thing and the department’s orders state another, whom should the public believe?” AIDSO asked in its statement.
If the Minister intends not to get any Kannada-medium government school closed, AIDSO demands that the government immediately withdraw the merger clause from the October 15 circular. It also seeks a formal written directive stating that no low-enrolment school will be closed under the pretext of a merger, read the statement from Nithin, district secretary, AIDSO Mysuru.
Published – December 08, 2025 06:42 pm IST
