Parents' association objects to compulsory adoption of government schools in Karnataka
The Karnataka Private School-College Parents’ Association Co-ordination Committee has submitted a petition seeking the withdrawal of the proposal.
The Karnataka Private School-College Parents’ Association Co-ordination Committee has raised objections to a proposal that would require private educational institutions to compulsorily adopt government schools, according to The Hindu.
The association submitted a petition to the government seeking the withdrawal of the proposal ahead of a meeting on Wednesday. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is scheduled to meet with private educational institutions and corporates to discuss using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to develop government schools.
In its petition, the committee stated that while the objective to improve government schools is appreciative, the compulsory adoption within a district or taluk raises legal, constitutional, and administrative concerns. The committee said that diverting resources from private schools could interfere with their legitimate institutional autonomy.
The association further noted that school adoption might involve infrastructure development, teacher deployment, recurring maintenance, and long-term financial commitments. It requested the government to clarify who will exercise administrative control, determine expenditure, and bear responsibility for future liabilities.
The Department of School Education and Literacy has invited representatives from all private unaided school managements across the state to participate in the Chief Minister's meeting on Wednesday.