KPS schools in Mysuru have expanded to 62 after the department of school education and literacy upgraded 50 more government institutions across the district, bringing pre-primary education through II PU under a common public-school model.
The Karnataka Public Schools are designed to provide LKG to II PU education under one roof, with both English and Kannada medium options. The newly upgraded institutions are planned to receive science laboratories, libraries, computer centres, playgrounds, physical education teachers, English-speaking classes and AI-based education facilities.
The expansion is being supported through Asian Development Bank funds and the Union government’s PM Shree scheme. According to the department, between Rs 2 crore and Rs 4 crore has been spent on each school to improve infrastructure, including additional classrooms, libraries and computer centres. Each KPS school is designed to accommodate up to 1,200 students.
The first phase of the KPS initiative began in Mysuru district in 2018 with 12 schools. That phase included two schools each in Mysuru Rural, H D Kote and Periyapatna taluks, and one school each in T Narasipura, Nanjangud, Mysuru South, Mysuru North, Hunsur and K R Nagar educational blocks.
The 50 newly upgraded schools are distributed across the district. T Narasipura has received seven, while Mysuru Rural, Nanjangud, Periyapatna, H D Kote and K R Nagar have received six each. Hunsur and Mysuru North have five each, and Mysuru South has three.
The model is intended to consolidate education services and facilities within government institutions, including for students travelling from nearby villages. The department said transportation would be provided for such students, although the report did not specify the number of vehicles, routes or the operational start date.
Deputy director of school education and literacy D Udaykumar told The Times of India that measures were being taken to appoint teachers for all subjects and ensure that the required facilities were available in the newly upgraded schools. This makes staffing and completion of facilities key implementation steps following the infrastructure upgrades.
Retired government school teacher Papanna described the KPS model as beneficial for students and parents because it combines English and Kannada medium education from LKG to II PU. He urged rural families to enrol their children in the schools.
The department’s immediate focus is to complete teacher appointments and make the planned facilities available at the 50 upgraded schools. The expansion will take the district’s KPS network from the 12 institutions established in 2018 to 62.
