Bengaluru: The school education department issued a show-cause notice to teachers at schools where children refused to merge with the magnet school in the pilot project running in Honganuru, Channapatna.The magnet school is an ambitious model rolled out by the department to transform primary schooling in rural Karnataka by merging under-enrolled neighbourhood schools into a single, well-equipped institution. As a pilot, seven schools were identified to merge with the refurbished Karnataka Public School, Honganur. However, only two schools — HPS in Channanke Gowdana Doddi (with just two students) and LPS in Mogenahalli Doddi (with five) — agreed for the merger. The other five continued to run independently, despite limited facilities and scant student strength. After a spot visit, TOI reported in Dec 2025 about the pushback from locals against the department’s plans. The villagers wanted their schools to be retained, as it was a question of identity, access, and the very idea of community.Now, the block education office sent a show-cause notice to teachers for failing to convince parents to move to the KPS. “You failed to convince the parents about the facilities provided in the KPS and because of this, the project did not take place. Although a show-cause notice was already issued, you did not take any action and did not give a reply. You were informed to convince the parents on or before March 11. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action without further notice,” the notice read.As the circular went viral, various stakeholders slammed the department’s action. Ajay Kamath, All India Democratic Students Organisation, said: “The education department’s recent order, which insists on the immediate merger of these schools and criticises local teachers and officials under the pretext that they ‘failed to convince parents’, highlights the stubborn and high-handed attitude of the govt. While the govt continues to give verbal assurances that ‘no one will be forced’, it is simultaneously issuing orders to forcibly relocate children against the wishes of their parents. Exerting pressure on parents who are unwilling to send their children to the Honganuru KPS school is a violation of the Constitutional Right to Education. We vehemently oppose this dictatorial order.”
