Dharwad students protest plan to let private institutions adopt government schools

Hundreds of students of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) gathered at Dharwad’s Vivekananda Circle on Friday, 6 November, to protest against the Karnataka government’s move to allow private institutions to adopt government schools.

The students condemned the decision and demanded that the government withdraw it. AIDSO argues that handing schools to private bodies, even for upkeep, is a first step towards privatising public education and could weaken the government’s own responsibility for poor children’s schooling.

The background

Schemes that let companies, trusts and alumni “adopt” government schools, by paying for buildings, toilets, computer labs or teachers’ training, exist in several States and are usually presented as a way to bring in money and expertise that the education budget cannot. Critics worry about who sets priorities in an adopted school, and whether the State will spend less once private money comes in.

The details of Karnataka’s plan, including what adopting institutions would be allowed to do, were not set out in the reports of the protest.

What’s next

AIDSO has said it will continue protesting until the move is withdrawn.