Ruing that the per child expenditure (PCE) notified by the Karnataka government under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act is grossly inadequate and based on an incomplete calculation of government spending, the Karnataka Associated Managements of Schools (KAMS) has appealed to both the Karnataka chief minister and the Prime Minister of India seeking urgent intervention.

Speaking about findings on RTE on Friday in Bengaluru, KAMS has contended that the state continues to reimburse private unaided schools at outdated rates of Rs.8,000 and Rs.16,000 per child—figures determined nearly a decade ago—despite a substantial increase in public expenditure on school education. The Association also said that a similar situation persists across the country, hinting at a need for nationwide intervention.

The Association said that Karnataka’s allocation and expenditure on school education has increased significantly over the years, rising from nearly ₹20,000 crore to over ₹45,000 crore. KAMS has submitted that if all eligible recurring expenditure heads prescribed under the law are considered, the per child expenditure for the academic year 2026–27 could range between ₹40,000 and ₹60,000 per child, a similar expense the government claims to have per child in government schools.

According to the Association, the government has considered only a five of components in expenditures while determining the annual per child expenditure as against 135 which the private schools note, resulting in reimbursement that falls far short of the actual cost mandated under Section 12 (2) of the RTE Act and Rule 8 of the Karnataka RTE Rules.

KAMS has sought the immediate determination and notification of the per child expenditure for the academic year 2026–27 in accordance with the statutory formula.

The Association further claimed that nearly ₹7 crore has been recovered from schools following audit objections arising from what it describes as an incorrect interpretation of the statutory provisions governing per child expenditure. They claimed that no reimbursements have been made to private schools in Karnataka for RTE students over the past two years.

According to KAMS, the prolonged delay and inadequate reimbursement have placed thousands of recognised private unaided schools under severe financial stress. “While schools continue to fulfil the Government’s obligation of providing free elementary education to children admitted under the RTE quota, the funding deficit is ultimately borne by the remaining 75 percent of fee-paying parents, creating an inequitable financial burden on affordable private schools,” said D Shashi Kumar, general secretary, KAMS.

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