Bengaluru, September 6, 2026: Teachers are the key reason behind the quality of education being delivered in Karnataka’s government schools, School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said on Saturday.
Speaking at the state-level Teachers’ Day celebration and the presentation of state awards to teachers at the Vidhana Soudha Banquet Hall in Bengaluru on Saturday, Bangarappa said the state’s reforms in education, the adoption of technology in departmental administration and improvements in school education had helped Karnataka attract significant financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the development of Karnataka Public Schools (KPS). He said the ADB’s large-scale financial assistance for the education sector for this initiative was the first of its kind in the country, and credited teachers for the department’s progress.
1,000 Karnataka Public Schools
Government is developing 1,000 Karnataka Public Schools across the state at an estimated cost of ₹2,500 crore, with the objective of providing quality education from pre-primary to Class 12 under one roof. Madhu Bangarappa said the KPS initiative aims to provide rural students with a modern, globally oriented learning environment. Government will also provide free bus facilities for students of KPS schools, he said.
“KPS is not merely about constructing new buildings. It is a comprehensive effort to provide quality education, better infrastructure and a modern learning environment while strengthening public confidence in government schools,” the minister said.
15,000 Teachers Being Recruited
Bangarappa said the government had given priority to teacher recruitment as adequate staffing is essential to improving the quality of education. Education Department is currently undertaking the recruitment of around 15,000 teachers, he said. For the first time, the government is also recruiting computer teachers to teach students from Classes 1 to 8.
Government is discussing the recruitment of another 2,500 teachers with the Chief Minister, and a proposal has been submitted to the Finance Department. If approved, the Education Department could fill around 18,000 to 19,000 vacant posts, Madhu Bangarappa said. He added that the government had also completed the recruitment of 13,000 teachers that had been left incomplete by the previous government.
“This is not merely about filling vacancies. It is an important step towards providing better education to children, reducing the workload on teachers and further strengthening government schools,” he said.
AI and Skill-Based Education
Karnataka has introduced artificial intelligence-based education for Class 9 students from the 2026-27 academic year. Programme will be expanded to students from Classes 9 to 12 in the coming years, Bangarappa said. Government has also introduced skill-based education for students of Classes 6 to 8 from the 2026-27 academic year.
Free Textbooks and Bus Passes
Government aims to ensure that no child is deprived of education due to financial difficulties, the minister said. For the first time, the government has ordered the distribution of free textbooks to students up to Second PUC, he said. Free bus pass facilities have also been provided to school and college students, Bangarappa added.
Bilingual Education Expanded
Bilingual classes have been introduced from the 2026-27 academic year in all Karnataka Public Schools and PM SHRI schools, as well as in government schools across 15 districts, the minister said.
A special training programme has also been introduced to provide continuous training to teachers handling bilingual classes. Madhu Bangarappa said the government was committed to providing all necessary support for the welfare of teachers. He paid tribute to teachers for their contribution to shaping the future of children on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara inaugurated the programme. Dignitaries on the stage offered floral tributes to Savitribai Phule and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad presided over the event.
Legislative Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed, Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Legislative Council members Puttanna and Ramoji Gowda, Additional Chief Secretary of the School Education and Literacy Department V. Rashmi Mahesh, Higher Education Department Secretary Tulasi Maddineni, and School Education Department Commissioner Vikas Kishore Suralkar, among others, were present.
Keywords: Karnataka education, Madhu Bangarappa, Karnataka Public Schools, teacher recruitment Karnataka, AI education Karnataka, Teachers Day 2026