Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 22 (ANI): All BBMP Schools in Karnataka will be handed over to the Education Department in an effort to improve their performance and bring them on par with private schools, announced Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday.
During a press briefing at the office of the Samagra Shikshana Karnataka, Shivakumar explained that the Education Department will assume responsibility for all academic activities, while the BBMP will continue to oversee the maintenance, management, and upgrading of the school buildings. He emphasized that the Education Department will have full control over the academic aspects of the schools.
The government’s objective is to construct 2,000 Karnataka Public Schools at the hobli and panchayat level, using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. The land for the first 500 schools has already been identified, and in January, CSR donor companies will be called in to assign responsibilities for these schools. Each school is estimated to cost between Rs 4 to 7 crores, with discussions already underway with potential CSR contributors.
For each school, the government will allocate 2-4 acres of land, and corporate companies will use their CSR funds to construct the schools on the designated land. These schools will be fully equipped with classrooms, libraries, laboratories, toilets, and staff rooms. The government has initiated a pilot project in Ramanagara district to test this model.
Furthermore, private educational institutions will be invited to manage several Karnataka Public Schools based on their capacity. These institutions will be responsible for hiring additional teachers as needed and ensuring the delivery of quality education. While the schools will function as government schools, the responsibility for education will be entrusted to the private sector. The proposal to establish a committee for this purpose has been submitted to the Chief Minister’s office.
Under this initiative, corporations have already committed CSR funds amounting to Rs 1,900 crores. The government has prepared a blueprint and plans to convene a meeting with companies and educational institutions to discuss the project further. It is important to note that the Karnataka Public Schools will be established at the hobli and panchayat levels, not at the taluk or district levels.
By transferring the BBMP Schools to the Education Department and partnering with private educational institutions and corporate entities, the government aims to enhance the quality of education in Karnataka and prevent rural students from migrating to cities in search of better educational opportunities. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between government and private schools, ensuring that all students receive access to top-quality education.
