More than 94,000 government schools have vanished from India's educational landscape over the past ten years—a staggering loss that student activists say reflects a systematic defunding of public infrastructure. The revelation came from Ashwini K.S., state president of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO), during a fiery speech in Dharwad on Sunday.

Key facts

  • 94,000+ government schools closed nationwide in a decade
  • Karnataka government attempted to shut 40,000 schools under KPS Magnet scheme
  • 1.4 crore students graduate annually with limited job opportunities
  • 8 students injured in recent Bagalkot school roof collapse

A Battle for Education Access

Ashwini didn't just present numbers—she framed them as part of a broader struggle. Speaking at a district-level student camp organized for Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's 200th birth anniversary, she connected today's education crisis to Phule's historic fight against caste discrimination. "Phule believed education should be universal," she said, her words carrying the weight of that legacy. "Today's governments seem to be taking education away from poor students."

Infrastructure in Crisis

The reality on the ground feels increasingly desperate. Ashwini described schools where basic necessities like shoes and socks haven't been distributed three months into the academic year. Buildings crumble—literally. Just three days before her speech, eight students were injured when a roof collapsed in Bagalkot. Similar incidents have been reported in Kalaburagi, Raichur and Kodagu, some turning fatal.

"Our ruling classes are afraid of the growing number of educated unemployed youth. Therefore, they want to curtail higher education and reduce it to mere training for menial and clerical jobs."

Employment and Inequality

The crisis extends beyond school gates. Ashwini pointed to a brutal employment mismatch: 1.4 crore graduates enter the job market annually, but governments create only about eight lakh jobs while the private sector adds another 10 lakh. Meanwhile, she cited reports indicating that 40% of national income concentrates in the hands of a few wealthy individuals, and over 4,000 children die of hunger daily.

A Call to Action

Her message culminated in a rallying cry. Students must resist the commercialization of education, she urged, and safeguard public institutions. They should draw inspiration from revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to build struggles against injustice. The camp itself—featuring discussions, cultural programs, and games—became a microcosm of the engagement she advocates for: aware, active, and united.