800 Govt shools in state to be upgraded as Karnataka Public Schools: Minister Madhu Bangarappa
Bengaluru: The state government has drawn up a plan to upgrade 800 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), each equipped with modern infrastructure at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore per school, Primary and Secondary Education Minister of Karnataka Madhu Bangarappa announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, the minister said the KPS model will provide continuous education from pre-primary to II PUC under one roof. In the first phase, 500 schools will be developed as KPS institutions with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the state government.
Additionally, 200 schools will be upgraded through the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board, while 100 more will be taken up in 10 mining-affected taluks under the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC). A Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared for each set of projects.
“Each Assembly constituency will have two to three KPS schools, while taluks in the Kalyana Karnataka region will get four to five,” the minister said.
To ensure coordination, a Taluk Education Reform Committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the local MLA. “The goal is to enhance the basic infrastructure of government schools and ensure quality education for all,” he added.
The minister also said value education would be introduced for students from Classes 1 to 10, focusing on 10 core moral values. The Department of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) has prepared activity-based student workbooks for this purpose.
Training for 1,984 resource persons will be conducted at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) level by the end of this month.
On November 1, marking Kannada Rajyotsava, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will release the digital version of the student activity books, while printed copies will be supplied to all schools so that each student receives one activity book, the minister said.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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