Mangaluru: The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has strongly criticized the Karnataka government for its alleged plans to shut down government schools under the Hub and Spoke model. AIDSO convenor Vinay Chandra stated that the government’s decision to merge schools with low attendance is a step towards permanently closing these institutions, which serve as a lifeline for underprivileged children.
The AIDSO Karnataka state committee condemned the move to shut down over 4,000 schools, calling it a betrayal of the state’s farmers, workers, and common people. “Government schools are a beacon of hope for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Closing these schools is nothing short of a conspiracy to deprive the poor of their right to education,” Chandra said.
He recalled a similar attempt by the previous BJP government, which aimed to close 13,800 schools under the National Education Policy 2020. That effort was thwarted by widespread protests led by AIDSO, which included collecting over 35 lakh signatures to save the schools. “Now, the Congress government is repeating the same mistake, betraying the trust of the people,” he added.
The AIDSO has demanded that the government abandon its “unscientific, undemocratic, and anti-people decision” and instead focus on providing better facilities to schools with low attendance. “Shutting down schools is like cutting off the nose to spite the face,” Chandra said.
The organization has urged students, parents, and education advocates to unite and build a strong resistance movement against this decision.
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