People from different walks of life, including parents, students and youth leaders, staged a protest in Kalghatgi of Dharwad district on Tuesday against the closure of government schools under the Karnataka Public Schools Scheme.
In the protest staged at Bammigatti Cross under the aegis of Save Public Education Committee, parents, citizens and students from various villages took part and strongly condemned the move.
Addressing the protestors, State president of All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) Ashwini K.S. criticised the Government Orders issued on October 15 and December 30, 2025, which propose converting government schools in 5,900 gram panchayats into Karnataka Public Schools.
She said that the scheme is designed to shut down all other government schools within a 5-km radius of the new magnet schools.
According to the State government, 17 lakh students have already dropped out of the school in the last 15 years. And, the new scheme will further deprive the children of farmers and farm workers of education, she said.
Sharanabasava Gonawar of AIKKMS said that privatisation of education will result in education becoming the property of the rich and the depressed and exploited people will be further pushed down.
Closing government schools will mean that the members of the working class will not be able to send their children to school, he said.
AIDSO State secretariat member Vinay Chandra said that both the Congress and the BJP are jointly responsible for the sorry state of government schools.
He said that people from all communities have united beyond caste and religion to protect the future of the next generation.
President of Save Public Education Committee of Emmetti village Sanjeev Desai said that people in the village have donated their land to build a school there and if the government plans to close their school, then they will be forced to launch an agitation.
AIDSO district secretary Shashikala Meti presided over the protest meeting and district president Sindhu Kowdi made the introductory remarks.
Office-bearers of Save Public Education Committee of various villages, including Amrut Lamani, Ramu Edge, Basapp Tadas, Mohan Lamani, and others led the protest.
The protestors warned the State government of intensifying the agitation if it does not withdraw the orders on magnet schools.
