In a recent letter to the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) highlighted a significant migration of students from the state board to other boards.
KAMS has urged the commission to investigate and address the issue to protect the educational rights of students enrolled in the state board.
KAMS attributed this trend to the education department’s lax approach, which they claim has resulted in students underperforming compared to those from other boards, consequently jeopardizing their futures. According to a report by The New Indian Express, the association criticized recent changes in curriculum, textbooks, and exams, describing them as confusing and discriminatory. They argued that these changes fail to meet the standards of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) syllabus.
Shashi Kumar D, General Secretary of KAMS, pointed out that over the past four years, there has been a substantial shift of students from the state board to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian School Certificate Examination (ICSE) boards. He warned that if this trend continues, private state board schools might face extinction. This year alone, private schools have reportedly lost 10-15% of their admissions due to concerns over the state board’s functioning, as per reports by Edex Live.
Parents perceive that other boards offer a better quality of education with less interference, Kumar noted. He added that many top-performing students in various entrance exams come from CBSE or ICSE backgrounds, reinforcing the notion among parents that their children are missing out on better opportunities. Kumar further explained that the state board’s failure to adopt a spiral or integrated curriculum deprives students of the competitiveness essential in today’s educational landscape.
KAMS emphasized that the issue is particularly critical at the pre-primary and primary levels, where a strong educational foundation is crucial. They labeled the current situation a “system failure” and called on KSCPCR to step in and ensure the rights of children in state board schools are safeguarded.