After opposing it, Congress govt may now be mulling model schools in villages

BENGALURU: The Congress, which had opposed the previous BJP government’s plan to set up model schools and shut down other government schools when it was in the opposition, seems to be mulling the same, now that it is in power.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, in a recent meeting with district deputy commissioners and zilla panchayat CEOs, is said to have indicated about establishing model schools in villages using CSR funds. Surprisingly, the party had opposed such a plan proposed by the previous BJP government.

The government higher primary school at Allikallu village.

It is said that the government is now looking at having one model school for every three gram panchayat and closing down government schools in two gram panchayats. The model schools are to be built using CSR funds. Apart from this, it is also proposed to approach private educational institutions to adopt government schools.

The proposed move has given rise to questions in the academic circles if the private institutions will actually aid the development of government schools and if the government is planning to shut down government schools by handing them over to private institutions.