Karnataka Public Schools: Rs 1,742-crore ADB boost for 500 govt institutes targets 1 million students

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 182.89 million financing package, equivalent to about Rs1,742.27 crore, to support Karnataka's efforts to expand and strengthen Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), giving a fillip to the state's flagship government school transformation programme.

The funding, approved under the "Strengthening Karnataka Public Schools Program," will be used to upgrade 500 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools in a phased manner. The initiative is expected to benefit more than one million students across the state.

The financing package will be complemented by a USD 10 million grant and a USD 25 million guarantee from the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd), providing additional support for the implementation of the programme.

The Karnataka government acknowledged the role played by Mio Oka, ADB's country director for India, and Karthik Krishnan, chief executive officer of IFFEd, in facilitating the international partnership and securing the financing package and additional support for the programme.

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Karnataka Public Schools and ADB support

The Karnataka Public Schools model seeks to provide quality education under one roof by integrating schooling from pre-primary to higher secondary levels and improving access to government education, particularly in rural areas.

According to the state government, the latest ADB support will help strengthen infrastructure at KPS campuses and improve learning opportunities for students studying in government schools. The state had announced the expansion of Karnataka Public Schools in this year's budget under the slogan "Uttama Kalike, Ujwala Bhavishya" (Quality Learning, Bright Future).

As part of the programme, the upgraded schools will introduce Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, or STEAM, education, with the aim of equipping students with practical and job-ready skills.

Officials said the programme will support the development of modern infrastructure and learning facilities at KPS campuses, enabling students to gain exposure to interdisciplinary and technology-driven education.

The initiative is expected to benefit more than one million students once all 500 schools are upgraded under the programme.

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KPS Expansion: Karnataka govt pitch

The Karnataka government said the combined financing package would be used to equip rural KPS campuses with the necessary infrastructure and improve the quality of education offered in government institutions.

State officials said the proposal seeking ADB assistance was first submitted during the tenure of education minister Madhu Bangarappa. The government has described the financing package as the first investment of its scale by the ADB in India's public school education sector.

The state government said it intends to leverage the funding to transform Karnataka Public Schools into a model for public education reform and significantly improve educational opportunities for students studying in government schools across the state.