Budarasingi villagers protest closure of govt school

Hubballi: As Govt Kannada Higher Primary School in Budarasingi village, in outskirts of Hubballi, is being shut under the KPS scheme, students, parents, youth, and public held a protest under the leadership of All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) in the village on Wednesday.

Addressing the protest, Sharanabasava Gonawar, vice president, district committee for saving public education, said that the Budarasingi school is being merged with a KPS school started in Adaragunchi. “Great leaders like Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule fought so that children from poor communities could receive education within their own localities. Today, the govt is closing such schools and making poor children travel to far of places for education. In the name of providing quality education to poor children, the govt has started KPS schools, whose real intention is to shut down thousands of govt schools in villages,” he alleged.

He further stated that while village schools are being closed, KPS schools are also being handed over to private companies. “Through this, the govt is pushing for complete privatization of public education, making education accessible only to those who can afford it. People must unite and fight against this harmful KPS Magnet scheme,” he urged.

“Under the KPS Magnet scheme, the govt has decided to shut village schools within a 5 kms’ radius, which is a betrayal for rural children. Our children cannot travel 4km to the KPS school in Adaragunchi. This is a backward region where most people depend on daily wage labour. If the village school is shut, our children may be forced to drop out,” said Manjunath Katagi, president of save public education committee, Budarasingi.

“Our village has only one school. If it is shut, we will have to send our children to Adaragunchi, and they will have to cross a national highway to reach the school. If anything happens to them, will the govt take responsibility? Under no circumstances will we allow our schools to be shut, even if it costs us our lives,” warned Ganga J Hukkinkeri, vice president of the committee.

Committees were formed to continue the struggle to save village schools. Villagers decided to intensify the agitation until the govt withdraws its decision. Mulla Saab Saidannavar, Hina Kausar M Saidannavar, Anjuma H Mundinamani, Shekappa Jagalur, Subhas Jagalur, and other villagers were present.