Bengaluru: Alarmed by the number of students who dropped out in the transition from class 9 to 10 in some of the govt schools in Bengaluru north, the block education officer (BEO) sent notices to the institutions seeking an explanation of where the students went.
For instance, Karnataka Public School (KPS) Hebbal had 171 students in class 9 last year but only 129 registered for class 10 exams this time. This means around 42 students were missing from the classrooms this year. Similarly, nine other schools had a dip in the number of students in class 10, compared with class 9.
KPS on Link Road, Sheshadripuram, and Govt High School Santebeedhi Yeshwantpur each had 29 fewer students in class 10. The situation was similar at KPS Jalahalli (19 fewer students), Govt High School IISc (16), GHS Palace Gutahalli (15), and GHS (13).
The notice sent by Lathamani, BEO North 2, asked the schools to respond, explaining the reason for the decrease in enrolment. Principals must submit the name of the students and the detailed reasons.
The department also asked for a copy of the roll of students registered for SSLC exam and those who registered privately.
Under the jurisdiction of North 2, there are 11 high schools. While 10 of them showed a dip, one school registered an increase in the number of students.
"We noticed a drop in the number of students in these schools, which is very concerning. We therefore asked schools to find out about the missing children and report back to us," Lathamani told TOI.
"The learning levels of children are, in many cases, very low, so children drop out by the time the really serious exams begin. Absenteeism is also a major issue. In different parts of the state, children stay away from schools for long periods once they are old enough to work. The reasons could range from jatras when children are younger to engaging in seasonal work as they grow older. By the time they come back, they are unable to grasp what happens in classes. And once drop outs begin, it is extremely difficult to get them back. One of our recommendations in the past to the department was to appoint a separate officer to track such children and get them back, instead of asking school heads to do the job, as it is a job that demands a lot of work. The problem we see in grade 10 is not a grade 10 problem. It is a problem that started much earlier and was not addressed, or is harder to address," said Pramod Sridharamurthy, secretary of the India Literacy Project.
According to some officials of the school education department, it cannot be just a case of drop outs; it could also be a case of over-reporting of students.
"It is a common practice that the student numbers are exaggerated. But we have no idea what this case could be until we take it case by case," he said.
Sruthy Susan Ullas is an assistant editor with over 14 years of e...
Read MoreSruthy Susan Ullas is an assistant editor with over 14 years of experience and writes extensively on education. Her work focuses on government policies across educational departments—ranging from primary and secondary to higher, and medical education-- offering in-depth analysis and reporting on how they shape the academic landscape in Karnataka. She also keeps a pulse on campus trends and activities, the evolving perspectives of young people, and capturing the voices and vibes of the next generation.
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