According to government data, at least 26% of private schools that were granted permission to open in the last five years have shut down. Between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 academic years, the Department of School Education and Literacy approved 2,905 new private unaided schools, but 762 of these have closed.
While Vijayapura saw the highest number of new schools with 292 permits, only five of them closed down. In contrast, Bengaluru South, which permitted 255 schools, faced a closure rate of 33%, with 85 schools shutting down within five years. Bengaluru North also witnessed a significant closure rate, with 75 schools permitted and 56 of them closing in the same period.
Private school managements blame the government’s rigid norms, which were introduced after 2018, for making it increasingly difficult to operate. Among the most criticized changes is the requirement for a minimum of half an acre of land to start a school, which many cannot afford. Additionally, schools now have to approach multiple departments, including fire safety and building plan approvals, making the process cumbersome. D Shashi Kumar, General Secretary of the Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka, highlighted that earlier, schools only had to deal with the education department, but the new requirements have created significant barriers.
A major factor contributing to the closure of budget schools, particularly in Bengaluru, was the loss of students following the exit of the migrant population post-Covid. Shashi Kumar also noted that the rise of chain and corporate schools, along with the increasing preference for CBSE and ICSE boards, has made it difficult for state board schools to remain competitive.
School management representatives also pointed out the high costs involved in setting up a new school, which can amount to Rs 20 crore, along with the pressure to maintain a minimum student strength. Additionally, the preference for corporate schools with modern facilities has diverted parents away from budget private schools.
School Closure Rates by District
- Belagavi: 87 schools permitted, 2 closed
- Vijayapura: 292 schools permitted, 5 closed
- Bengaluru South: 255 schools permitted, 85 closed
- Bengaluru North: 75 schools permitted, 56 closed
- Dakshina Kannada: 79 schools permitted, 69 closed
- Bengaluru Rural: 65 schools permitted, 11 closed
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