Bengaluru, Feb 20 : A sub-committee of the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission (KSPPC) has recommended that the state government allocate Rs 10,000 crore to improve infrastructure in primary schools, aiming to bring at least 50% of schools into compliance with the Right to Education (RTE) Act within three years.
The report, submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive roadmap to enforce the RTE Act effectively and reduce dropout rates. It calls for a realistic action plan by the School Education Department, strengthening School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), and ensuring community participation in school governance while eliminating political interference.
The panel also proposed expanding the RTE Act to cover children aged 4 to 18 years and reviving the free bicycle scheme for girls to improve secondary-level retention, noting a dropout rate of 22.9%.
For higher education, the sub-committee recommended reassessing faculty requirements in view of technological and AI advancements, establishing a Karnataka State Research Endowment Fund to support innovation, and creating Skill Development Departments and Industry Academia Advisory Boards to align curricula with employment needs.
The recommendations, finalized by five sub-committees of the KSPPC, are part of a 204-page report covering education, health, environment, agriculture, women and child development, and labour welfare, and are expected to inform the 2026–27 state budget.