Karnataka is the eighth largest state in India with a total child population (in the 6-14 years age group) of 20,51,517*.There are over 48,000 government -run educational institutions catering to the elementary educational level with 90 lakh children and 2.5 lakh teachers.
The status of education is dismal with a high school drop-out rate, low levels of learning and a high incidence of child labour.
- 62.4% of the total child population in Karnataka,
aged between 6-14 yrs. attend school while
the rest are at work or loitering, making 3.8
million children out of school. 43.71% of those
enrolled drop out before they reached Std. VII.
- 85% schools have 2 rooms or less, of these
schools 38% have 50 children and 41% have
100 children enrolled.
- 89% schools have 2 or less teachers.
- A majority of the schools have books but the
cramped conditions of the existing schools
makes it impossible for proper storage and
effective utilisation of the books.
- Only 36% of the schools have playgrounds which
are in a usable condition.
- Only 23.94% of the schools have drinking water.
- 4.57 % have toilet facilities.
- An NCERT study found that in Karnataka, 87% of
the children in the fourth standard could
not read Kannada and 90% had not mastered
basic numeracy skills.
In recent times the government has initiated new schemes to help improve the schools. The World Bank assisted District Primary Education Programme was introduced in select districts in 1994-95, to help improve school attendance, provide easier access to school and enhance the learning levels in the classroom. Recently the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan-to bring every child to school was introduced. Incentive schemes like free textbooks, uniforms and scholarships are also operational in the state
However despite all the efforts and resources being channelised into elementary education, we still have an archaic, inefficient system providing education to those who have not opted out of the system. While reform is imperative, it does not lie in a few cosmetic changes but a well thought out overhauling of the entire mechanism of delivering education
Source: CIEE Report 2001
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