Enrollment in Karnataka’s government-run schools dropped by 17 lakh students over the past 15 years. Minister for School Education Madhu Bangarappa reported this decline to the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
Minister Bangarappa attributed the decrease to several factors. These include parents’ preference for English-medium education and a growing interest in central syllabi. Increased migration and a rising number of private schools also contributed to the trend, according to the minister. The information was provided in a written reply to BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar.
Government Initiatives to Boost Enrollment
The state government has launched a statewide enrollment awareness campaign. This campaign runs from November 14, 2025, to June 30, 2026 . Its goal is to attract more students to state-run educational institutions.
Bilingual Education Expansion
Between 2018 and 2025, bilingual (Kannada and English) pre-primary sections started in 6,675 government schools. Currently, bilingual classes for grades 1 to 5 are active in 9,522 schools across the state.
Infrastructure Development and Modernization
The government is investing in upgrading school infrastructure. Computer labs were established in 5,437 government primary and high schools during 2024–25. An additional 1,072 labs are being set up in 2025–26.
The following table details other infrastructure improvements:
| Facility Type | Number of Institutions | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Class Facilities | 3,862 | Active |
| Innovative Labs | 173 | Active |
| Science Labs (Schools) | 489 | Establishing |
| Science Labs (Pre-University Colleges) | 614 | Establishing |
| Vocational Education Schools | 375 | Offering Education |
Under the Samagra Shikshana Karnataka project, 838.75 crore rupees have been allocated. This funding supports the development and repair of classrooms, toilets, and furniture in government schools.
Teacher Recruitment and Staffing
The government is actively recruiting new teachers to address shortages. Recruitment is underway for 5,267 teachers in the Kalyana Karnataka region. Another 5,000 teachers are being recruited for other districts.
To further manage the teacher shortage, the government has engaged a significant number of temporary staff. Currently, 43,526 guest teachers and 5,508 guest lecturers are working in state institutions, Bangarappa stated.
Karnataka Public Schools Expansion
So far, 309 Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) have been established. These schools offer education from pre-primary to pre-university levels on a single campus. The government plans to upgrade an additional 900 schools to KPS status this year, further expanding comprehensive education access.