Marking foundation day, AIDSO steps up protest against school closure

The All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) on Sunday observed its 72nd foundation day across several districts in Karnataka with programmes, flag hoisting and renewed calls to oppose what it termed anti-student education policies of the State government.

In Kalaburagi, the foundation day was marked by flag hoisting and a meeting at the AIDSO district office.

Addressing a gathering, district council secretary Venkatesh Devadurg said that the organisation has, for more than seven decades, built student movements across the country against educational injustice.

“AIDSO is committed to the idea of scientific, secular, democratic and universal education. In Karnataka too, we are actively fighting policies that harm public education,” he said.

AIDSO activists taking part in the 72nd foundation day event in Hosapete, Vijayangara district, on Sunday.
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He strongly criticised the State government’s Karnataka Public Schools magnet scheme saying that it will lead to the closure of nearly 40,000 government schools and push the poor and working-class children out of the education system.

“Under the guise of reforms, education is being handed over to private interests. Closing government schools will permanently shut the doors of knowledge for lakhs of poor children,” he said and called for a united struggle to protect public education.

AIDSO district vice-president Preeti Doddamani, joint secretaries Rahul Jadhav and Yuvraj Rathod and several students were present.

Activists observing the 72nd foundation day of AIDSO in Ballari on Sunday.
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At another foundation day event in Ballari, AIDSO leaders recalled that the organisation was founded on December 28, 1954, inspired by the ideas of Shivdas Ghosh, with the objective of ensuring free and equal education for all students without discrimination.

State secretariat member Ravikiran J.P. said that commercialisation has made higher education inaccessible to poor students.

“The system has created a situation where only those with money can study medicine, engineering or higher courses,” he said and added that governments are acting contrary to the ideals of social reformers and freedom fighters.

District president K. Eeranna warned that the proposed closure and merger of schools will hit rural students the hardest. “Government schools in villages are the only option for poor children. If they are shut down in the name of merger, many students will be forced to drop out,” he said and called upon students and the public to oppose the move.

In another event in Hosapete of Vijayanagara district, AIDSO district secretary U. Umadevi expressed concern over the increasing commercialisation of education saying that poor students are being denied access to medical, engineering and higher education.

“The present system has created a situation where only those with money can pursue higher studies. Governments, which are supposed to provide free education, are instead promoting its commercialisation,” she said and urged students to carry forward the ideals of social reformers and freedom fighters who fought for universal education.

AIDSO district joint secretaries Chandra, Akash, Gnanesh, Neema and Mary, along with several students, took part in the foundation day programmes.