Bengaluru: Primary and secondary education minister Madhu Bangarappa Friday said he will take up the demand for free bus rides for all school students, including boys, with the state govt.

The minister’s assurance came after a student raised the issue during a mega parent-teacher meeting held on Children’s Day at Vidhana Soudha here.

During an interactive session, Lokesh, a govt school student from Mysuru taluk, asked why free bus travel was restricted only to girls. “You have made bus travel free for girls. Make it the same for boys,” he said.

In a light-hearted response, Bangarappa said the student had “put the key right into the state treasury”, adding several stakeholders had made similar requests in the past. The minister elaborated: “While students already get kilometre-based bus pass concessions, I will take this forward. Free rides for girls were meant to empower them, but extending the concept to all students will help — especially since they all carry books and bags.”

Students from across districts used the platform to raise a range of concerns — from hostel shortages to lack of coaching for humanities students. Vikas, a student from a govt high school in Bagalagunte, Bengaluru North, said many students were unable to secure hostel accommodation. Admitting that hostel facilities were inadequate, Bangarappa said: “Will request the backward classes, minorities and social welfare departments to increase hostel capacity.”

Shivani Mallikarjun from Govt PU College in Kalaburagi said students from the humanities stream were being left out of the govt’s coaching initiatives for competitive exam and that AI should be included in the curriculum.

Saying the state govt will expand its free coaching initiatives, Bangarappa said: “From the coming year, AI-based curriculum, computer education and free coaching for law entrance and CA exams will be introduced.” He further said CET-NEET coaching has saved students Rs 50,000 to Rs 3 lakh, with 25,000 students benefitting.

Rakesh, a student from Bailhongal in Belagavi, urged the govt to extend midday meal up to Class 12. Bangarappa said: “We currently have provisions up to Class 10, but we will consider extending it in the next budget.”

Value education booklets released by CM

Siddaramaiah, who released booklets for value education at the event, urged students and teachers to uphold scientific and rational thinking. “[Jawaharlal] Nehru spent 3,200 days in jail during the freedom struggle and laid the foundation for premier institutions like IITs and AIIMS. We must act responsibly and not deviate from the right path,” the CM said.

Sanket R, a student from Chikkaballapur, was among those felicitated with a cash award for academic achievements. Sanket has made the cut for IIT-Kharagpur.

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