Shortage of students, six schools closed in Dakshina Kannada

DHNS

Mangalore, 23 July 2010: To make Karnataka a literate state, efforts were made by the government to open lower primary schools for every one kilometer and higher primary schools for every three kilometers. But the closure of the same schools due to acute shortage of students has become a matter of concern today. 
 

Kapikad Ullal Lower Primary, Moodbidri Periodi Lower Primary, Sullia Taluk Lower Primary and Bantwal Government Higher Primary are the four government schools which have gone into hibernation this year as the student population was in a miserable state of having less than five students. Adding on, two aided schools namely Belthangady Taluk Perla Baipaddy School and Vishnu Mangala Private aided school in Bantwal have also been shut down as the student population was less than 40.

 

“It is a costly affair for the government to keep a school open for just three to four students as every lower primary school has to have two teachers and hence their salary and school infrastructure and maintenance is huge. Hence, the government has decided to shut down government schools with less than five student population,” says  Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) S Chamegowda speaking to Deccan Herald.

 

“The Education Department ensures that children from the schools that have been shut down continue their studies and it is upto the parents to enroll them in other nearby schools. The buildings of these closed schools will be used as training centers for teachers and also as schools for physically handicapped and mentally challenged,” he adds and clarified that the schools are only closed temporarily and in case if more than 10 students opt to come in future years, the schools will be re-opened.

 

The Government is trying to motivate students by providing various facilities such as free textbooks, meritorious teachers, free mid-day meals, good infrastructure and toilet facilities and even provides notebooks and school bags for SC/ST students. A huge amount of money is spent to train teachers and the government spends approximately Rs 14,000 per student every year, but still the students who opt for government schools are comparatively less.

 

“Parents enrolling students in private schools, students wanting to study in schools with English as the medium of instruction may be some reasons why students don’t come to government schools,” opined Chamegowda.

 

At present, Dakshina Kannada has 285 government, 20 aided and 69 unaided lower primary schools. Similarly, there are 648 government, 211 aided and 141 unaided higher primary schools. Meanwhile, there are 154 government, 104 aided and 157 unaided high schools. “The Government is making all efforts to eradicate illiteracy and hence trying to get in as many students as possible in mainstream education through various schemes and by providing students various facilities,” adds Chamegowda.