Karnataka is set to invest Rs 2,500 crore over the next four years to upgrade and develop 500 government schools under an ambitious expansion of the Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) model.
The project, which is planned to continue until 2029-30, will receive Rs 1,750 crore in financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), while the Karnataka government will contribute the remaining Rs 750 crore.
The agreement for the project was signed at Vidhana Soudha as part of the state's broader plan to strengthen government school infrastructure, improve learning facilities and expand access to modern education.
The 500 schools selected for upgradation will be developed with the aim of attracting more students, with each Karnataka Public School expected to eventually cater to at least 1,200 students.
Karnataka Public Schools to Offer Modern Learning Facilities
Karnataka Public Schools are government-run institutions that provide education from pre-primary to second-year pre-university under one campus. The schools offer both Kannada and English-medium education.
The new investment is expected to support comprehensive infrastructure development and strengthen educational facilities across the selected schools.
The state government is also linking the school development programme with wider reforms in the education sector, including bilingual education, teacher recruitment, regular teacher training and specialised Computer Science teachers.
AI Education and Skill-Based Learning Part of the Plan
Karnataka is preparing to introduce Artificial Intelligence education in schools while also expanding vocational and skill-based learning opportunities for students.
The government has also been working on initiatives related to student attendance monitoring and safe transportation for children, particularly those living in rural areas.
A Detailed Project Report has already been prepared for the first 100 government schools under the project. The schools were identified based on specific criteria as part of the first phase of the larger programme.
Rs 262.5 Crore Already Released
Karnataka has already received Rs 262.5 crore, representing 15% of the total financial assistance committed for the project.
The remaining funding is expected to be released in phases over the next four financial years. The planned disbursement includes Rs 358.75 crore in 2026-27, Rs 385 crore in 2027-28, Rs 376.25 crore in 2028-29 and Rs 367.5 crore in 2029-30.
The Rs 2,500 crore initiative is expected to significantly strengthen Karnataka's government school system by improving infrastructure, expanding access to technology-driven education and introducing more skill-based learning opportunities.
The project also aims to expand the Karnataka Public Schools model and create larger, better-equipped government institutions capable of serving students from pre-primary through pre-university education.
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