Siddaramaiah’s budget focuses on science, computer education; no grants for free bicycle scheme; experts call it ‘mixed bag’

The budget focused on infrastructure by allocating Rs 850 crore for the Assessment Year 2024-25, an increase by Rs 250 crore from the previous AY, to develop government schools and pre-university colleges.

The chief minister also laid emphasis on developing science, computer labs and internet facilities by earmarking Rs 50 crore, under a two-year package in government high schools with higher enrollment. As per survey reports, a little over 10 per cent of government schools in Karnataka are equipped with internet accessibility.

Further, a grant of Rs 10 lakh each will also be provided to upgrade science labs in pre-university colleges where over 400 students have been enrolled in science stream. The budget also promised upgradation of 2,000 government primary schools as bilingual schools (Kannada and English).

Importantly, in a move that would counter BJP’s alleged communal and ideological push in education, Siddaramaiah has announced ‘Navu Manujaru’, an interactive two-hour class involving discussion and debates that will promote ideas of social harmony, scientific temper and coexistence. The interaction will be conducted every week in all schools and colleges, he said.

While promising to complete the recruitment of teachers/lecturers in various subjects in government primary and high schools and pre-university colleges, the state government has decided to provide all government schools and pre-university colleges with free electricity and water facilities. The government has earmarked Rs 25 crore for the same.

The budget also found mention of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s proposal to introduce Karnataka Public Schools on a PPP model with the help of CSR grants. Further, Siddaramaiah announced ‘Ganitha-Ganaka’ which will help children improve mathematical skills and ‘Marusinchana’ programme to improve the learning ability of class 6 and 7 students.

Implementation of State Education Policy; Rs 10 crore corpus fund for researchers

For the higher education department, Siddaramaiah said that his government is committed to introducing the State Education Policy and that the report submitted by the commission will be implemented in the upcoming academic year.

In a major boost to government degree colleges, for AY 2024-25, Rs 250 crore will be provided for the upgradation of First Grade Degree Colleges and Rs 120 crore for the upgradation of Government Polytechnics and Engineering Colleges.

Further, University of Vishweshwaraiah College of Engineering (UVCE) will be upgraded on the lines of IITs at a cost of Rs 500 crore out of which Rs 100 crore will be funded by the state government and the rest will be mobilised through CSR funds.

With the purpose of encouraging research and innovation among students and teachers, a corpus fund of Rs 10 crore will be set up. This fund will be used to provide technical and financial assistance to students and teachers interested in filing for patents, Siddaramaiah said.

Niranjanaradhya V P, an education expert, said, “Although the allocation for the education sector is increased, over 90 per cent of it goes into the salary part of teachers and education department officials. It is a welcome move to focus on science and computer education, but we expected the government to have a clear education roadmap for the next four years. The government should have implemented the Right to Education Act (RTE) which is important and which was introduced by their own UPA government in the Centre.”

Regarding English medium schools, he asked if there were competent teachers in the state who are proficient in English.

Rohan Rai, Co Founder of Edupull, an ed-tech startup, said, “Karnataka’s 2024 education budget presents a mixed bag of promising initiatives and missed opportunities.

“Increased funding for first-grade colleges and polytechnic institutes is commendable. Initiatives such as the ‘Karnataka Public Schools’ and bilingual school upgrades hold potential for improved access and quality, but clarity on curriculum and teacher training is crucial. The budget lacks concrete measures to address fundamental challenges like teacher shortages and inequitable resource distribution in rural areas. Overall, the budget shows positive intent, but careful execution and focus on equitable opportunities will determine its success in creating a future-ready generation,” Rai said.