Private or government school? How parents in Karnataka decide

Are parents in Karnataka really abandoning government schools for private ones?

For years, news reports, education officials, and public discussions have repeated a familiar claim: that parents are steadily abandoning government schools for private institutions. It is a view repeated so often that it feels like settled truth. But a new statewide study covering 14,149 parents across 34 education districts now complicates that narrative. An important question emerges: do parents actually prefer private schools, or do they move only when certain conditions push them?

This article explores the study's findings, which reveal that most parents still prefer government schools and shift to private institutions only when specific concerns grow too large. It looks at what really drives parental decisions, from the demand for English medium instruction to perceptions of teaching quality, and what focused action could strengthen government schools. A thought-provoking read on the intersection of education policy, parental choice, and the realities of school selection in Karnataka.

(Dr. H. S. Sudhira is an urban planning researcher, geoinformatics specialist, sustainability expert, and a member of the Board of the Public Affairs Centre)

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