In a significant move to bolster school education and reduce the financial burden on families, the Karnataka government has announced a comprehensive package of student welfare measures. The initiatives, unveiled by the state's Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Madhu Bangarappa, promise free learning materials, enhanced nutrition, and a major recruitment drive for teachers.
Comprehensive Educational Support Announced
Minister Madhu Bangarappa made the pivotal announcements during the inauguration of new classrooms at the Melpal Government High School in Koppa taluk, Chikkamagaluru, on Friday. The cornerstone of the new policy is the provision of free textbooks and notebooks for all children studying from class 1 to class 12, starting from the upcoming academic year. This initiative expands the existing support system, which already includes free shoes, socks, and uniforms for schoolchildren.
"Our government is committed to ensuring that no child is deprived of education due to a lack of basic resources," the Minister stated, highlighting the government's focus on accessibility. The event was also attended by TD Rajegowda, the chairman of the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Corporation and local MLA.
Enhanced Nutrition and Teacher Recruitment Drive
Beyond learning materials, the government is substantially upgrading its nutritional support for students. Previously, the egg provision scheme was limited to children up to class 8. The government has now extended this benefit to include students up to class 10. To further combat malnutrition among underprivileged children, arrangements have been made to provide milk and ragi malt in the morning, alongside eggs, throughout the week.
Minister Bangarappa revealed that the flagship Midday Meal Scheme is currently serving 5.7 million children across the state. To address the persistent shortage of teaching staff, the state administration has already recruited 13,000 teachers in the last 11 months. Looking ahead, the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is scheduled for December 7, which will pave the way to fill an additional 12,000 teaching posts. Furthermore, at the start of the current academic year, 51,000 guest teachers were appointed to ensure smooth functioning in classrooms.
Vision for Accessible and Connected Schools
The minister also outlined a broader vision for the state's educational infrastructure. The government has set an ambitious goal to establish 6,000 Karnataka Public Schools across the state, aiming for at least one such school in every gram panchayat. To ensure seamless access to these institutions, the government will provide free bus services for students from LKG (Lower Kindergarten) to class 12 who are enrolled in these schools.
This multi-pronged approach—combining free learning resources, improved nutrition, massive teacher recruitment, and better connectivity—signals a major push by the Karnataka government to strengthen the foundation of public education and support students from their early years through higher secondary school.
