Karnataka to Upgrade 1,000 Schools into Public Institutions with CCSR Funds

The Karnataka government has announced plans to upgrade 1,000 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) over the next two years, leveraging Community and Corporate Social Responsibility (CCSR) funds. These schools will be established in areas under gram panchayats, urban local bodies, and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) where KPS institutions are currently absent.

Co-Branding Opportunity for Donors

In a bid to attract greater contributions, the government has permitted donor organisations to co-brand their names with the schools they support. To oversee the initiative, a Karnataka State CCSR Monitoring Committee has been formed, chaired by the Chief Minister, with the Deputy Chief Minister as vice-chairman. The committee includes ministers and senior officials. Supporting this effort are the School Education CCSR Cell, chaired by the Departmental Commissioner, and district and GBA-level CCSR cells led by respective local authorities.

Expanding Access and Modernising Education

Currently, Karnataka has 325 operational KPS schools, catering to approximately 1,200 students each from 8 to 15 villages. These institutions offer bilingual education in Kannada and English from preschool to Class 12, with a focus on computer literacy, skill-based industry-oriented curricula, and preparation for competitive exams. The government aims to establish at least one KPS in every gram panchayat and provide free transportation for students to access these schools.

Financial Backing and Future Goals

The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance the quality of education for the four million students enrolled in government schools and pre-university colleges across Karnataka. In the current academic year, the government has already allocated ₹2,000 crore from the Asian Development Bank to develop 500 KPS clusters. For the financial year 2024-25, over ₹352 crore in CCSR contributions have been earmarked for infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, and digital education resources.

This ambitious expansion underscores Karnataka's commitment to improving access to quality education while fostering public-private collaboration through CCSR partnerships.

Source: The Hindu