Over 4,200 government primary schools in Karnataka have less than 10 students: Madhu Bangarappa
Bengaluru: Karnataka's School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa revealed that 4,264 government primary schools in the state, which is about 20 percent of the total, have fewer than 10 students enrolled.
Bangarappa was responding to a question from Shantinagar MLA N.A. Haris during the ongoing Budget session. The state currently has around 49,679 government schools, including 21,045 primary schools (Grades 1-5), 22,086 upper-primary schools (Grades 1-8), and 5,051 high schools, as reported by The Indian Express.
The minister clarified that no government primary schools in Karnataka have been shut down due to low enrolment. However, schools with no students are temporarily suspended until enrolment resumes. These schools are not merged with nearby institutions and remain available for future students.
To address low enrolment, the government conducts special drives every May and general enrolment campaigns in June, which include door-to-door visits, leaflet distribution, rallies, and marches, added the report.
Bangarappa also highlighted that students receive free textbooks, uniforms, shoes, and socks from the government. Additionally, the mid-day meal scheme provides students with lunch, along with eggs or bananas, to encourage enrolment.
“Eligible children from deprived areas attending nearby government primary and high schools receive a transport and escort allowance—Rs 2,000 for 10 months in some cases and Rs 6,000 in others. Additionally, schools such as Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Schools, KGBV Hostels, Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), and model schools are run to support the education of girls and children from special categories,” he was quoted as saying by IE.
Bangarappa also mentioned that pre-primary education is being introduced in 2,619 government primary schools. In 4,196 selected government primary schools, bilingual classes are being conducted, and 600 senior grammar schools are offering English-medium education to help increase enrolment.
Education department officials pointed to several reasons for the low enrolment in government primary schools, including declining birth rates, migration, a preference for private schools, and other socio-economic factors.
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Five arrested in Kerala's Walayar for beating to death Jharkhand native
Palakkad (Kerala) (PTI): Five people have been arrested for allegedly beating to death a Jharkhand native on suspicion of theft near Walayar here a day ago, police said on Friday.
The arrests were formally recorded late Thursday night and all the accused have been booked for the offence of murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, an officer of Walayar police station said.
The deceased -- Ramnarayan Bhayar (31) -- was working as a labourer in the Walayar area.
According to police, Bhayar was attacked by a group of men on Wednesday evening, alleging that he was involved in a theft at Kizhakeattappallam near Walayar.
As per the FIR, the incident occurred before 7.40 pm, and the injured Bhayar was rushed to the Palakkad District Government Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Police said a detailed investigation was underway to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the incident.
