The proposed merger of government schools under the KPS Magnet Scheme has triggered widespread opposition in Arsikere taluk of Hassan district. Activists and residents from several villages staged a protest in front of the Block Education Officer’s office in Arsikere on Monday, under the banner of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO).

The Department of School Education has drawn up a list of schools in the taluk earmarked for merger with the nearest Karnataka Public Schools under the scheme.

The AIDSO State treasurer Subhash Bettadakoppa criticised the move, pointing out that schools proposed for merger included those with healthy enrolment figures. “The schools at Bandur and Kenkere have a strength of 162 and 120 respectively. There is no logic in merging schools with such numbers. Once the policy is implemented, children will be forced to travel up to five km to reach their new school,” he said.

He further alleged that the magnet scheme was essentially a policy designed to shut down government schools under a different guise. Citing the example of Kenkere village, he said local residents had voluntarily contributed their own money to establish LKG and UKG classes at the government school in order to boost enrolment.

“Despite this community effort, the government has listed that very school for merger. It is a betrayal of the people’s trust and initiative,” he said.

The protesters submitted a memorandum to Block Education Officer Mohan Kumar, opposing the proposed mergers. The protest was led by Chaitra, president of the Hassan district unit of AIDSO, V.N. Rajashekhar, vice-president of the All India Save Education Committee, social activist Ugra Narasimhe Gowda, and others.