MANGALURU: The financial caution in households because of the pandemic has possibly found reflection in school admissions in Dakshina Kannada where enrolment in government and state-aided institutions has risen, while it has dropped in more costly unaided private schools.
Data available with TOI shows that as of the second week of November, the targeted admissions to Dakshina Kannada government schools was 98,532 students but the schools got 1,02,518 students, an additional 3,986 admissions. That’s an increase by 4 per cent.
In aided schools, the district has seen a 10 per cent increase. Admissions are up from 46,229 to 50,847.
The numbers are likely to increase as the admission process is on till November-end.
The numbers have dropped by 4 per cent in unaided schools. Out of seven BEO blocks, only Moodbidri has achieved its 100 per cent admission target. Others have not.
DDPI Malleswamy said that among the government schools, in the Mangaluru South BEO limits, admissions stand at 108.84 per cent of the target. The target admissions were 9,750, which now increased to 10,612.
In aided schools, the Puttur BEO limits has witnessed a growth of 15.33 per cent in admissions, followed by Sullia BEO limits at 14.16 per cent.
Malleswamy said that a key factor is expense. Parents have been unable to pay for private schools because of the financial situation. Many have removed their children from private schools and enrolled them in government schools. A large number of students have migrated from unaided schools to Kannada-English (bilingual) medium institutions.
Many students from Dakshina Kannada also studied in other districts but have moved back to their hometown, said another senior official in the department of public instruction. Also, some students who were earlier in residential schools have now enrolled in schools close to their homes.
