Bengaluru, 21 August

The Asian Development Bank and Karnataka government on Friday signed an agreement under which ADB will provide Rs 1,750 crore to develop 500 government schools as Karnataka Public Schools (KPS).

The State will invest Rs 2,500 crore over four years till 2029-30, contributing Rs 750 crore. Schools capable of attracting larger enrolment are being selected, with each KPS expected to cater to at least 1,200 students.

KPS provide education from pre-primary to II PU in English and Kannada mediums. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said the assistance would comprehensively develop the schools and claimed it was ADB's first such large assistance to India's education sector.

He said initiatives including bilingual education, teacher recruitment, training, AI and vocational education helped secure the assistance.