K’taka to welcome students with festive reopening of schools: Madhu Bangarappa

Bengaluru: Karnataka School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa has called for a grand and festive start to the new academic year across government schools in the state.

The minister directed officials and local communities to ensure that school campuses are cleaned between May 29 and 31 and that students returning on June 1 are welcomed in a celebratory atmosphere with garlands and special arrangements.

He said members of School Development and Monitoring Committees, local residents and alumni should actively participate in organising the reopening celebrations to make schools more attractive for children.

Madhu Bangarappa also announced that the government aims to establish 1,000 Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) across the state. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar are scheduled to lay the foundation stone for new KPS buildings in Shivamogga on June 1, he said.

The minister appealed to donors to support government schools through the ‘Our School, Our Responsibility’ initiative, noting that contributions ranging from Rs 500 to several crores had already been received.

He also stressed the need to boost enrollment in government schools by assuring parents about the quality of teaching. The government has introduced several welfare measures, including providing eggs or bananas daily to students and free electricity for schools, he added.