Karnataka Sets Up 5-Member Cabinet Sub-Committee to Overhaul Education Sector and Address Student Issues

The Government of Karnataka has constituted a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee tasked with examining critical challenges in the state's education sector and recommending sweeping structural reforms. Formed following a Cabinet directive and formalized through an official memorandum from the Secretariat, the high-level panel will be chaired by Minister U.T. Khader. The other cabinet members on the panel include Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy, Home Minister Priyank Kharge, Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, and School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa. The sub-committee has been mandated to review six pivotal focus areas that directly impact students and parents across the state. A primary objective is ensuring the integrity of competitive and academic examinations by framing robust measures to prevent paper leaks, eliminate recruitment malpractices, and establish a fixed, time-bound exam calendar. Additionally, the panel will examine mechanisms to regulate fees charged by private educational institutions and private coaching centers, aimed at mitigating the heavy financial burden placed on families. Another major focus of the committee involves evaluating public educational infrastructure. The panel will suggest measures to fill vacant teaching posts and upgrade laboratories, libraries, and hostel facilities across government schools, pre-university colleges, and universities. Furthermore, the sub-committee is tasked with modernizing curricula to align with modern workforce demands through apprenticeship programs and industry partnerships. Importantly, the panel will address student mental health by establishing suicide prevention mechanisms in coaching hubs and residential facilities. The sub-committee is scheduled to consult with diverse stakeholders—including students, teachers, and parents—and present its final report within one month.

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