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Mangaluru: As part of the state government’s ambitious plan to establish 500 Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), new schools will be launched from the current academic year. Of these, Dakshina Kannada district has been allocated 18 schools, while Udupi district has received approval for 10 schools.

Officials said the new schools will function on the model of 308 KPS institutions launched earlier in 2018-19. In Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, nine schools each were started in two phases under the earlier initiative. While the previously established schools were directly funded by the government, the newly approved institutions will be supported through Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance.

Under the programme, existing government schools will be upgraded to KPS institutions, offering education from LKG to PUC within a single campus. The focus will be on quality education along with computer-based and skill-oriented learning. Bilingual instruction in Kannada and English will be introduced from the LKG level.

The School Education and Literacy Department has issued orders for the establishment of 500 KPS schools and said necessary steps will be taken for implementation. Officials added that schools will be upgraded to KPS status based on demand and feasibility.

“We are taking steps to implement the scheme. Schools will be upgraded to KPS institutions wherever there is a request,” said Rashmi Mahesh, Principal Secretary, School Education and Literacy Department.

In Dakshina Kannada, mapping work is underway to identify locations for the 18 proposed schools. “Specific areas are yet to be finalised and more details are expected from the central office,” said Shashidhar, Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), Mangaluru.