Government schools in Karnataka to open social media accounts to boost enrollment
Highlighting facilities, student talents, admissions info, exam results, day-to-day activities
Bengaluru: Seeking to bring government schools on a par with private institutions, the Karnataka government has directed all government schools to create social media accounts.
In a set of instructions released to the government schools to increase enrollment for 2026-27 academic year, cited by Deccan Herald on Friday, the department of School Education and Literacy has instructed the head masters of the schools to ensure that the school has a presence on social media.
“Schools should open accounts on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X. These platforms should be used to popularise the schools by posting facilities available, student talents, enrollment details, board exam results and other day-to-day activities,” instruction reads.
The admission campaign, launched this month, will continue until June 2026. Teachers, School Development and Monitoring Committee members, and other stakeholders have been asked to educate parents about facilities provided at the government schools and encourage them to consider the same for their children.
Acknowledging the reach of social media even in rural areas, the department has emphasised that every government school in rural areas too must take part in the digital outreach.
Officials also believe that sharing success stories of former students could inspire confidence among parents. “Several alumni of government schools have scaled new heights. Posting videos of and information about such old students on social media will help to attract more admissions,” DH quoted a senior official of the department as saying.
Meanwhile, the department has decided to restart summer camps in government schools from the 2026–27 academic year.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
SC slams freebies culture, says states should open avenues for employment
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the freebies culture, saying it was high time to revisit such policies that hamper the country's economic development.
Taking note of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd's plea, which proposed to provide free electricity to all irrespective of financial status of consumers, the top court said it was quite understandable if states hand-hold the poor.
“Most of the states in the country are revenue deficit states and yet they are offering such freebies” overlooking development, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said.
ALSO READ: SC grants bail to filmmaker Vikram Bhatt in cheating case
The bench said economic development of the nation gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution and states should work to open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, electricity to all.
The top court, however, issued notice to Centre and others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm which proposes to provide free electricity.
The power firm has challenged a rule of the Electricity Amendment Rules, 2024.
“What kind of culture are we developing in India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to provide to those who are incapable of pay the electricity charges,” the bench asked.
“But without drawing a distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing. Will it not amount to an appeasing policy,” the CJI asked.
The bench asked as to why the Tamil Nadu firm suddenly decided to loosen the purse strings after the electricity tariff was notified.
“The states should work to open avenues for employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening then free cycle, then free electricity then who will work and then what will happen to the work culture,” the CJI said.
The bench said states, instead of spending on development projects, do two jobs - paying salaries and distributing such largesse.
