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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented the state’s 15th consecutive budget, unveiling a comprehensive financial roadmap for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Karnataka Budget: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented the state’s 15th consecutive budget, unveiling a comprehensive financial roadmap for the fiscal year 2024-25. To enhance education infrastructure and quality, the Karnataka government announced plans to upgrade 2,000 Government Primary schools as bilingual schools, offering instruction in both Kannada and English.
Despite presenting a revenue deficit budget, the Chief Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to welfare programs, with a significant increase in budgetary allocation to Rs 1,20,373 crore. The government has allotted Rs 27,674 crore for the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan in 2024-25 for the SC/ST community and Rs11,447 crores for the Scheduled Tribe sub-project, making up a total of Rs 39,121 crore.
Karnataka Budget 2024: Karnataka Public School (KPS) schools, ‘Ganitha-Ganaka’ program, Marusinchana Programme’
- In addition to it, the primary education department will focus on many initiatives, including the establishment of Karnataka Public School (KPS) schools providing pre-primary to pre-university education under one roof and implementing the ‘Ganitha-Ganaka’ program in collaboration with the J-PAL Institute for grades 3-5.
- The ‘Marusinchana Programme’, aimed at improving the learning ability of 6th and 7th-grade students, will be initiated with a budgetary allocation of Rs 10 crore.
- The government has earmarked Rs 50 crore for providing science and computer labs and internet facilities in government high schools over a two-year period.
Marusinchana Programme at a cost of Rs 10 crore to improve the learning ability of 6th and 7th standard students; 4. Rs 50 crore earmarked for providing science and computer labs and internet facilities under a two-year package in government high schools,” CM Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying to news agency ANI.
Navu Manujaru: An interactive two-hour class conducted every week in all schools
“Navu Manujaru, an interactive two-hour class involving discussion and debates, will be conducted every week in all schools. Government high schools and pre-university colleges will be started in collaboration with the Kalyana Karnataka Development Board. 74 Adarsh schools in the state will be upgraded to pre-university colleges with commerce and science combinations. A grant of Rs 10 lakh each will be provided to upgrade science labs in PU colleges with an enrollment of more than 400 in the science stream,” CM Siddaramaiah said.
74 Adarsh schools will be upgraded as pre-university colleges
As per news agency ANI report, a total of 74 Adarsh schools will be upgraded as pre-university colleges with commerce and science combinations, with a grant of Rs 10 lakh each provided for upgrading science labs in PU colleges.
NEET/JEE/CET training programs for approximately 20,000 students
To support students preparing for competitive exams, the government will launch NEET/JEE/CET training programs for approximately 20,000 students studying in science streams in government PU colleges, with a budget of Rs 10 crore allocated for the initiative. Moreover, recruitment of teachers in government primary and high schools will be initiated to address staffing needs. “NEET/JEE/CET Training program for about 20,000 students studying in science stream in government PU colleges at a cost of Rs 10 crore Recruitment of teachers in government primary and High schools is to be started, however, no figures are listed. 30 government women first-grade colleges and government women polytechnics will be upgraded at Rs 30 crore. Rs 250 cr will be provided for the upgrading of first-grade degree colleges and Rs 120 cr for government polytechnics and engineering colleges,” CM Siddaramaiah said, ANI reported.
The budget also prioritizes the upgrading of educational institutions, with plans to upgrade 30 government Women First Grade Colleges and government Women Polytechnics at a cost of Rs 30 crore. Additionally, Rs 250 crore will be allocated for the upgrading of first-grade degree colleges and Rs 120 crore for government polytechnics and engineering colleges. Infrastructure development remains a key focus of the budget, with initiatives to establish constituent colleges of universities in various districts and talukas, including Koppal, Bidar, Yadagiri, Raichur, and Kalaburagi. The historic University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) will be upgraded on par with IITs, with an investment of Rs 500 crore.
(With ANI Inputs)
