Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)

Puttur, Jul 9: In the current academic year not a single student has enrolled so far for class 1 (first grade) in 55 government primary schools of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

The statistics till June 30 have confirmed this shocking fact. In some other schools due to a handful of students, classes have not been shut. If this  trend continues, in future these schools might have dowm their shutters.

In Dakshina Kannada district zero admissions for class 1 have been recorded in 24 schools. This includes two schools of Puttur taluk, four of Bantwal, three in Beltangady, two in Mangaluru North, two in Mangaluru South, three in Moodbidri and eight schools in Sullia taluk.

Similarly, in Udupi district as well, zero admissions for class 1 have been recorded in 31 schools. These include four schools in Udupi, four in Brahmavar, five in Kundapura, nine in Byndoor and nine schools in Karkala taluks.

Dayanand R, DDPI, DK said, “There is still time for admissions. So there might be students who want to join class 1 (first grade). Grade-wise data accumulation process is underway.”

B Ganapati, DDPI, Udupi, said, “The environment in government schools is complementary to quality education. Parents have to be made aware of this fact. Everyone should send their children to schools that are in their respective native villages and preserve the school.”

The main reason for children not preferring government schools is the influence of English medium schools. As the English medium schools provide bus service to students at their doorstep among other facilities and so the parents are not showing any inclination in sending their children to government schools.