Members of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) and the Save Public Education Committee staged a protest at Ramaswamy Circle in Mysuru on Friday, condemning the State government’s decision to continue merging government schools despite opposition from parents and villagers.

AIDSO district vice-president Swathi, in a statement, alleged that the State government was merging government schools under the KPS Magnet project and had also initiated the process of merging nearby schools into PM Shri schools. She claimed that orders had been issued to merge 317 schools across the State under the PM Shri project and that PU colleges were also being merged.

Criticising the government’s claim of building a model education system through various educational guarantees, she alleged that government schools were being shut down in the guise of reforms. According to her, instead of strengthening public education, the KPS Magnet and PM Shri projects were weakening the system, the statement added.

The statement said villagers had strongly opposed the proposed merger of schools from several villages, and parents, villagers and School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) members had reportedly submitted representations to the authorities demanding that village schools be retained.

She said protests were being organised in several villages under slogans such as “Our village school is our pride” and “We will not let schools close.” She urged people to strengthen the movement to protect government schools and resist policies that, she claimed, would adversely affect public education.

Social activist and Save Public Education Committee advisor Ugranarasimhegowda and Karnataka State Farmers’ Organisation leader Hejjige Prakash also addressed the gathering.

AIDSO district president Chandrakala, district secretary Nitin, office-bearers Chandana and others were present.