Belagavi: Mahantesh Billur, the district coordinator of the All India Democratic Students Organization (AIDSO), alleged that the state govt is trying to completely privatise education by implementing a new model magnet scheme in the name of school development. He urged the govt to immediately abandon this new model magnet scheme and provide teachers and necessary infrastructure to the existing govt schools.Speaking to media on Thursday, Mahantesh said there is no doubt that the magnet scheme the govt is going to implement will deprive poor children of education. Due to the existing schools, even though there are fewer children in forest and hilly areas, they are getting education in govt schools. If this scheme is implemented, such schools will be merged with these new model schools, and children will be deprived of education. Therefore, this scheme is fatal for Kannada schools, he said.The purpose of this new model magnet scheme is to close more than 40,000 govt schools in the state he claimed. However, the govt and the school education minister are clarifying that no govt schools will be closed. On the other hand, he complained that the govt has already prepared a list of magnet schools and which Kannada schools within its jurisdiction should be included in these magnet schools.The govt has prepared a list to start more than 1,000 of these magnet schools across the state, including 2,283 Kannada schools in Belagavi district, during the next academic year. If the schools start anyway, there is a risk of closing more than 40,000 govt Kannada schools across the state. Therefore, he urged the people of the state to be vigilant and join the struggle to prevent this plan from being implemented.Vinush Bhagwan, Swati Chikkamath, and Lakkappa Bijjanavar were present.
