Bengaluru: A report prepared by the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has revealed that between 2010 and 2017, 1,782 government run schools have been closed down in the state due to poor student enrollment.
According to the report submitted to the state government, in the same period, Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has issued permissions to 3,186 new private schools in the state.
According to the report, in the year 2010, there were 23,109 lower primary schools. In 2017, number of lower primary schools had come down to 23,109. This means 1,668 schools have been closed in seven years. Similarly, in 2010, there were 22,568 higher primary schools. Number of these schools have come down to 22,454 pointing at the fact that 114 schools were shut down in seven years. In total 1,782 schools have been shut in seven years.
KDA has recommended the state government to restart all these schools besides launching LKG and UKG in the government schools to attract students from tender age.
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The report has pointed out that in the academic year 2016-17, the state government has released Rs.390 crores as RTE 25% quota reimbursement fee to the private schools. KDA in its report has recommended the state government not to reimburse amount to the schools in line with Tamilnadu government decision. Instead, schools should consider this as their social responsibility and provide free education.
