DK schools continue to record zero admissions leading to closure | Mangaluru News

Mangaluru: Some schools in Dakshina Kannada continue to record zero admissions, leading to their closure. This academic year, to date, a total of 13 schools, including six government and aided educational institutions, received zero admissions.According to the school education and literacy department, every year, more than 10 schools in the district continued to receive zero admissions. In the 2024-25 academic year, a total of 14 schools in the district had zero enrolment. Govinda Madivala, DDPI, Dakshina Kannada, said that school admissions are open until the end of this month. “So far, as per the details available on the Student Achievement Tracking System, a total of 13 schools have received zero admissions to their Class I. Among them, six are government lower primary schools. Out of six aided schools, two are high schools and the rest are primary schools. One unaided school has also seen zero enrolments. Among the 13 schools, one is a special school situated in Surathkal.”Madivala added that despite several schools receiving zero admissions, it has not made a difference to the total enrolment in the district, which is expected to reach a number similar to the previous academic year, which was around 3.3 lakh.“All six government schools with zero enrolment are lower primary schools. The preference for English medium education among people has weakened the Kannada medium classes in government schools. With the increase in bilingual medium schools, the enrolment in Kannada medium has significantly declined. There are a total of 238 bilingual medium schools in the district with new schools recently approved,” an education department official stated.The official added that even when a government school is nearby, parents opt for English medium schools and enrol their children in private schools. There is intense competition for student enrolment in bilingual medium government schools, while enrolment in Kannada medium schools is declining.As for the aided schools, they are struggling without permanent teachers. In places without permanent staff, guest teachers are hired, and the management has to pay them. Therefore, the number of aided schools with zero admissions is increasing every year. Some of the aided schools that received zero admissions are Swami Muktananda Paramahamsa Higher Primary School near Moodbidri, St Philomena Higher Primary School, and Saverapura Kiripushpa Higher Primary School.