993 unauthorised private schools in Karnataka, Council told

The Department of School Education and Literacy has identified 993 unauthorised private schools in Karnataka during 2024-25 academic year and a majority of them are located in Bengaluru North and South districts.

In an official reply to the query by BJP MLC D S Arun in the Legislative Council, School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa revealed that many of the unauthorised schools were following other board curriculum despite getting permission to run the school in state board.

At least 101 schools affiliated to the state board were found using other board textbooks and 89 were following other board curriculum. “To avoid parents and children from getting cheated by such schools, we have instructed Block Education Officers to publish the list of unauthorised schools on the public platform,” Madhu stated in the written reply.

Of the 993 unauthorised schools, 172 were identified in Bengaluru South and 141 in Bengaluru North. Followed by 120 such schools in Ramanagara and 101 in Raichur districts. Most of them failed to get the recent Renewal of Recognition from the department.

Meanwhile, the department has also directed the officials concerned at the district level to make sure such unauthorised schools are closed. In case any such school is found functioning, officials have been asked to file a police complaint against the management and take measures to close the institution with the help from the police.

Data shared by the department revealed that at least 21 schools were functioning without the approval or affiliation. Of the 21 schools, five were in Bengaluru South, four each in Bidar and Belagavi districts 

There were instances in the past where students enrolled in unauthorised schools were left in the lurch during SSLC board exams. And in many cases considering the interest of students, the government allowed those children to register for exams from other schools.