Thu Dec 04 13:10:34 UTC 2025: Summary:

Students and parents protested the proposed closure and merger of the government higher primary school in Benakanakatti village, Dharwad, with the Karnataka Public School (KPS) magnet school in Devara Hubballi. They argue that the merger would force students to travel 3 km daily, disadvantaging families of farmers and farm laborers who rely on the local school for childcare. The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) claims the government is misleading the public and planning to close thousands of government schools under the guise of establishing KPS, ultimately benefiting private institutions.

News Article:

Benakanakatti School Closure Sparks Outrage, Students and Parents Protest

HUBBALLI, December 4, 2025 – Students and parents took to the streets in Benakanakatti village, Dharwad taluk, today to protest the proposed closure of their government higher primary school. The plan involves merging the school with the Karnataka Public School (KPS) magnet school in Devara Hubballi, a move that has ignited fury within the local community.

Protesters argue that the consolidation will create a significant hardship for families in Benakanakatti, primarily composed of farmers and farm laborers. The 3-kilometer commute to the Devara Hubballi school would be especially challenging, as many parents depend on the local school to care for their children while they work.

“The school in the village has been of much help to them as they can leave their children in the school without any worries,” stated Shashikala Meti, district secretary of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO), addressing the crowd. “But if the school is merged, then the students will have to travel 3 km everyday.”

AIDSO accuses the State government of using the KPS initiative as a smokescreen to close down government schools on a mass scale, ultimately favoring private institutions. Meti further alleged that Minister for School Education and Literacy is making false statements, denying any planned school closures while simultaneously preparing lists of schools slated for shutdown.

The protestors demand that their school remain open in its current location, urging people from all walks of life to unite against the government’s alleged ploy. The future of the Benakanakatti school remains uncertain, but the strength of the community’s opposition suggests a difficult road ahead for the proposed merger.

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