Karnataka govt. constitutes Cabinet sub-committee to address student issues and education reforms

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader will head a Cabinet sub-committee to look into student issues. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J. To address student issues and education reforms, the State government on Thursday constituted a Cabinet Sub-committee headed by U.T. Khadar, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Minority Welfare and Haj & Wakf.Basavaraj Rayaraddi, Minister for Higher Education, Priyank Kharge, Minister for Home, IT&BT and e-Governance, Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, and Madhu Bangarappa, Minister for School Education, are the members of the committee.The committee will examine six aspects and challenges faced by students and make recommendations to the government.The issues to get focus are: integrity of examination and recruitment; cost of education, fee and coaching regulation; infrastructure and quality in public institutions; curriculum, skilling and linkage to employment; student’s mental health and wellbeing, and access and equity.This comes in the midst of concerns over question paper leaks and malpractices in exams, high fee in private educational institutions and coaching centres, poor infrastructure in government schools and high teacher vacancies, the need to align curriculum with job opportunities and ensuring safe mental health spaces for students by addressing academic and examination-related stress.It also aims to strengthen scholarships and financial assistance, expand hostel capacity, promote girls’ education, and ensure appropriate support for students belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Minority communities, besides first-generation learner.“This committee will undertake wider consultations with stakeholders such as students, parents, teachers, institutions and others across the State on the above aspects. The committee can opt for subject-experts from respective fields to assist them in this exercise and will submit the report within one month,” stated the official memorandum of the government.Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said, “The Government of Karnataka has constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to listen, examine and recommend reforms on critical issues.”“The State government, which has responded to the Chatron Ki Goonj student movement led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with the aim of bringing about a radical change in the education system, intends to implement appropriate reforms by understanding the problems and aspirations of the students,” said Mr. Bangarappa. Published - August 27, 2026 07:47 pm IST