In the 2024‑25 state budget, Karnataka earmarked around ₹44,422 crore for the education department, roughly 12% of the total state expenditure, promising a major push for government schools and pre‑university colleges. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced about ₹850 crore specifically for improving infrastructure in schools and PU colleges, including new classrooms, building repairs and upgradation of rural and minority institutions. The budget also talked about free electricity and water for all government schools and PU colleges, more funds for science and computer labs, and expansion of Karnataka Public Schools that offer classes from pre‑primary to higher grades on a single campus.
Despite the big numbers, follow‑up reports in early 2025 pointed out that many of these promises were either delayed or implemented only partially. Data from the education department showed that just over 5,300 schools – about 10.7% of the total – actually had internet access, the same number as before the upgrade announcement, raising questions about utilisation of the lab and connectivity grants. Teachers and educationists quoted in these reviews argued that while infrastructure is important, the more urgent need is systematic teacher recruitment, training and rational posting, because a large share of the budget still goes only to salaries without significantly improving classroom quality or learning levels.