BBMP to enumerate number of school dropouts from Feb 24

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will conduct a survey of school dropouts from February 24 with an aim to improve enrollment and student strength in government schools, said its Special Commissioner for Education Preeti Gehlot. She said that joint commissioners of all the eight zones of the Palike will be made the nodal officers, who will oversee the survey. "The step has been taken as per the directives of the Karnataka High Court,” she said, adding that the court directive comes after reports of a rise in school dropouts in the city and across the state.

According to the Annual Status of Education Reports, the enrollment of children in government schools in Karnataka aged six to 14 dwindled to 71 per cent in 2024 from 76 per cent in 2022. Additionally, 83 per cent of the government primary schools in Karnataka have less than 60 students, and 22 per cent of the upper primary or higher schools have fewer than 60 students. As per the Karnataka Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2012, the local bodies are required to maintain an education register of outof- school children and also ensure that children attend school and complete their elementary education. The survey is also done against the backdrop of the High Court hearing cases pertaining to the increasing number of dropouts.

The BBMP feels that it is necessary to determine the precise number of outof- school children under its jurisdiction in tandem with the court’s directive. The number of dropouts will be enumerated via a mobile application, 'Karnataka H2H Children Survey App.'. Ten enumerators from each ward across eight BBMP zones will hold a door-todoor survey, and the public has been appealed to cooperate with them by providing accurate information.