Kalaburagi: In a major push to improve educational infrastructure in rural areas, 350 new Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) will be constructed in the Kalyana Karnataka region over the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years. Of these, 150 schools will be funded by the state govt and 200 by the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB), said the board’s chairman Ajay Singh.

Addressing a press conference at the board hall in Kalaburagi city on Sunday, Singh stated that the initiative follows a cabinet decision taken on Sept 4 last year, where 500 Karnataka Public Schools were allocated under the Asian Development Fund grant. He added that the construction of the schools was approved.

The chief minister said that 150 schools will be set up in the Kalyana Karnataka region and the education minister has pledged full support. Additionally, 200 more schools will be constructed by the board itself, he added.

Currently, there are only 60 Karnataka Public Schools in the Kalyana Karnataka region out of 300 across the state. “The new schools will offer facilities and infrastructure better than private institutions. They will provide education from LKG to PUC, have dedicated bus services, and be built on 3 to 5 acres each.

The estimated cost per school is between Rs 3 to Rs 5 crore, and each will cater to students from two village panchayats,” Singh explained.

“Under the Akshara Avishkara programme, which has been extended for another three years, 25% of the allocated grants will go towards educational improvement. The board will spend Rs 7.5 crore to supply books to students from Class 8 to 10 to enhance SSLC performance. More educational programmes will be designed based on these findings,” Singh said.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to arrive in Kalaburagi on the evening of Sept 16 to participate in the Kalyana Karnataka Utsav. On Sept 17, as in previous years, the CM will garland the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at SVP Circle and hoist the national flag at the police parade ground at 9am, followed by a public address.

As part of the festival, a walkathon and an exhibition will be held at PDA College on Sept 16.

“The state govt has allocated Rs 13,000 crore to KKRDB over the past three financial years. Out of Rs 8,000 crore announced under the latest action plan, Rs 6,224 crore has already been spent in the last 27 months,” Singh said.