KCPS Flags ‘Unworkable’ Norms for Preschools, Warns of Job Losses and Rising Costs for Parents
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Council of Preschools (KCPS) has urged the Karnataka government to immediately review and suspend what it described as “impractical” regulatory requirements that could lead to the closure of more than 25,000 standalone preschools across the state. Addressing a press conference at the Press Club of Bangalore, council representatives warned that continued enforcement of the norms may trigger widespread job losses and place additional financial pressure on families.
KCPS members alleged that recent administrative directions, including Circular DPI-CPIOC7-2(NWS)/1/2026-E-2062350 and the 2019 detailed instructions, effectively apply K-12 institutional standards to small neighbourhood preschools. According to the council, several of these conditions are difficult to comply with in residential settings where most early-learning centres operate.
Among the key concerns raised was the requirement for a 30-year registered lease for rented premises, which the council said is rarely available in the private rental market. This, they argued, could render a large majority of preschools ineligible for registration. The prescribed classroom size of 18 ft by 20 ft was also criticised as unrealistic for home-based centres that function on a smaller scale.
KCPS further pointed to the requirement for educational land conversion approvals and a minimum built-up area of 2,000 sq ft, stating that such provisions are designed for larger institutional campuses rather than micro-level childcare facilities. The council also flagged operational issues with the registration portal, claiming it is accessible only within Block Education Officer offices, thereby limiting transparency and causing procedural delays.
Highlighting the wider impact, KCPS estimated that closure of neighbourhood preschools could affect the livelihoods of over 4.5 lakh women employed as teachers, caregivers and support staff. The council added that reduced access to affordable childcare may compel many working mothers to withdraw from the workforce.
Representatives also expressed concern that diminishing standalone preschool options could concentrate early-education services within larger school chains, potentially driving up fees and reducing affordability for middle-income families.
The council placed three key demands before the state government: constitution of a high-level committee to frame separate guidelines for standalone Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) centres, an immediate pause on enforcement of building and land-related norms, and restoration of a fully functional public registration portal.
KCPS office-bearers Dr Aruna Prasad (president), Pruthvi Banwasi (secretary), Savita Patil, Sandhya Prithvi, Sahana Nagendra, Somnath Hawargi, Sampath Kumar and Chirag Agarwal were present at the briefing and reiterated that regulatory reform was essential to safeguard children’s access to early education while protecting employment within the sector.
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