The Karnataka government has ordered the start of 700 government KPS Magnet Schools across the state in the next two years. Initially, 900 such schools were planned, with 500 to be developed in 2025-26 and 2026-27 funded by the state budget and an Asian Development Bank loan. Additionally, 200 schools in Kalyana Karnataka will be upgraded using funds from the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board. Each school will cost ₹2 crore to ₹4 crore to develop. Karnataka currently has about 47,493 government schools and pre-university colleges. Student enrolment in government schools dropped from 47.1 lakh in 2015-16 to 38.2 lakh in 2025-26, a 19% decline. Meanwhile, private unaided schools have seen enrolment rise by 29%. KPS Magnet Schools provide education from pre-primary to class 12 at one site. The scheme started with 176 schools in 2018-19 and now has 309 schools. These schools are created by merging smaller schools within 1 to 5 km to form composite schools with at least 1,200 students. Teachers from merged schools will move to KPS Magnet Schools, and vehicle transport will be provided for students. The government says no school will close, even if only one student remains. "We will continue the government school even if there is one student," said School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa. However, there is strong public and student opposition. Protests have intensified against merging seven small schools with a KPS Magnet School in Honganuru, Bengaluru South. Student leader Ajay Kamath demands the government withdraw the merger clause, stating, "What should the public believe? The State government should immediately withdraw the merger clause mentioned in its orders and issue a written order promising that schools with low enrolment will not be closed in the name of merging." The All India Save Education Committee also demands withdrawal of the merger orders. The government is amending teacher recruitment rules and allowing schools to raise funds and outsource management to strengthen KPS Magnet Schools.