Parents, villagers, members of the Public Education Protection Committee and activists of the All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) staged a protest in front of the government school at Hunasi Hadagil village in Kalaburagi district on Wednesday opposing the proposed merger of schools under the magnet schools scheme.

The protesters raised slogans against the scheme and displayed a banner reading “Our village school is our pride”, expressing their opposition to the closure of the local school and transfer of children to schools in other villages.

Addressing the gathering, AIUTUC district secretary S.M. Sharma said that the State government is attempting to shut down government schools through the implementation of the Karnataka Public Schools scheme despite public opposition.

He said that in Ramanagara district, steps have already been initiated to close down 40 schools under three magnet schools scheme, while in Hassan district’s Arsikere taluk, an official list has been released for the merger of several village schools.

“The Congress government is misleading people by claiming that government schools will not be closed down. Thousands of parents across the State are coming onto the streets in protest,” he said.

Mr. Sharma urged the State government to immediately withdraw the magnet schools scheme and not “play with the future of poor students”.

AIDSO district council vice-president Preeti Doddamani, member Babu Pawar and several villagers were present.