Page 33 - EW December 2023

“KPS schools were conceptualised as and Rs.1,500 for unemployed di- government schools to KPS institu-
model schools offering teacher-stu- ploma holders — is Rs.52,000 crore tions by March 2024 and another
dent ratio as per the RTE Act (1:30), per year. 2,400 over the next five years is
with separate subject teachers for Nagasimha G. Rao, director, well-intentioned and welcome, it
English and Kannada-medium class- Child Rights Trust, a Bengaluru- clearly hasn’t done the math to fund
es. I am doubtful about government based NGO, also believes that little this programme. All questions to the
capability to establish 600 additional will come from this over-ambitious education minister about budget-
KPS schools by the next academic target. “This announcement has ary allocations made for the KPS
year. The estimated cost for upgrad- been made for publicity reasons. upgradation initiative have remained
ing a government school into a KPS Children haven’t yet made good the unanswered.
is Rs.5 crore. Therefore, the govern- pandemic-induced learning loss. The With Karnataka’s budgetary edu-
ment needs Rs.3,000 crore for 600 state government should focus on cation outlay of Rs.37,557 crore for
KPS schools plus a budget for recur- continuing kalika chetarike — the 49,679 primary-secondary schools,
ring expenses. Moreover, there’s the remedial programme introduced 41 state universities and miscella-
challenge of training and upskilling by the BJP government to address neous skilling centres fully stretched
teachers in such a short timeframe,” learning loss of government school and the state government running a
says Rishikesh. students during the Covid lockdown. fiscal deficit of Rs 60,581 crore, and
In this connection, it’s pertinent Moreover, before we establish more Rs.52,000 crore committed to fulfill-
to note that the estimated cost of KPS schools, we must have a full ing the Congress party’s pre-election
fulfilling the Congress government’s report card on the existing ones — freebies, the axe is certain to fall on
pre-election promises — 10 kg free student learning improvement and education and health outlays. There-
rations per month, free bus rides for outcomes, teachers’ qualifications, fore, raising even 600 government
women, 200 units of free electric- best practices, etc.” schools to KPS status is likely to be
ity for all households, Rs.3,000 per While the Congress state govern- mission impossible.
month for unemployed graduates ment’s proposal to upgrade 600 Reshma Ravishanker (Bengaluru)

DECEMBER 2023 EDUCATIONWORLD 33