Mangaluru/Udupi: 30 schools report zero enrolment amid ongoing education crisis in coastal dists

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi (MS)

Mangaluru/Udupi, Sep 29: This academic year, 30 schools in DK and Udupi have recorded zero enrolment, with 14 located in DK and 16 in Udupi.

In DK, the breakdown includes two government schools, six aided schools, and six unaided schools. Among the aided institutions, there are two high schools and four higher primary schools.

The unaided category consists of three high schools, two higher primary schools, and one each for primary and high schools. Geographically, seven of the zero-enrolment schools are in the Mangaluru north zone, three in the south zone, two in Bantwal, and one each in Moodbidri and Belthangady.

In Udupi, zero enrolment is recorded in six government schools, one private school, and nine aided schools. The main reason for zero enrolment in government schools is a shortage of students, while aided schools struggle with a scarcity of permanent teachers. Committees running these schools are finding it difficult to provide salaries to their staff.

Last academic year, 40 schools reported zero enrolment, including six government schools, 17 aided schools, and 20 unaided schools. "If the number of students is less than the minimum, a notice is served to such schools as per rule," said Venkatesha Subraya Patagar, DDPI of the DK public education department. "When children are minimal, it is not possible to run the schools. Government schools with zero enrolment will be shut down until a specific number of students arrive."

In 2022, 98 schools were closed in DK and Udupi, including 79 primary schools and one high school in Udupi, along with 11 primary and eight high schools in DK. The main reason cited for these closures is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.