Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 24: Ten government schools from across Karnataka, including institutions from Dakshina Kannada (DK) and Udupi districts, were honoured with the ‘Best School’ award for environmental excellence under the Mission Prakriti: From Classrooms to Conservation – Leading the Change initiative, jointly organised by Samagra Shikshana Karnataka (SSK) and World Wide Fund (WWF)-India. The awards were presented by primary and secondary education minister Madhu Bangarappa during a ceremony held at Vikas Soudha in Bengaluru on Monday.

KSS Government High School, Haklady (file photo)

Among the winners were DKZP Government High School, Aliyur in Dakshina Kannada, and multiple schools from Udupi district including Karnataka Public School, Koteshwar; KSS Government High School, Haklady; and Government Higher Primary School, Mallur. Other award-winning institutions were Government Model Higher Primary School, Yemmiganur, Ballari; Government Kannada Higher Primary School, Katrala, Belagavi; Government High School, Alipur, Chikkaballapur; Government Higher Primary School, Jodalli, Kalaghatagi, Dharwad; Government Higher Primary School, Hiregonigere, Davanagere; and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), Yelandur, Chamarajanagar.

Addressing the gathering, Madhu Bangarappa said that students should not study merely for marks but focus on truly understanding subjects. “When awareness improves, results will follow,” he said.

Referring to Japan’s waste management practices, where citizens responsibly carry and dispose of garbage, the minister noted that such discipline should be cultivated in Karnataka as well. He stressed that inculcating human values is the first step in education and announced that a moral science textbook will be introduced for classes 1 to 10 from next year.

Bangarappa also praised the merit and performance of government school teachers and urged students to make effective use of the facilities provided by the government. Students present at the event shared their experiences under Mission Prakriti and explained how the initiative helped them understand the importance of wildlife protection and environmental conservation. Commissioner for school education Vikas Kishor Suralkar and WWF-India CEO Karan Bhalla were also present at the ceremony.