India, Nov. 7 -- The Karnataka government's proposal to allow private institutions to adopt government-run schools has triggered widespread criticism from teachers, academics, student organisations and education activists, with several groups raising concerns over the future of public education in the state.

The controversy intensified following remarks made by Aishwarya Shivakumar, head of a private educational institution and trustee-secretary of the National Education Foundation, at a corporate social responsibility (CSR) event organised by the state government. Speaking about the foundation's involvement in supporting the Karnataka Public School in Doddalahalli, she argued that teacher accountability, rather than staff shortages alon...