MANGALURU: Uncertainty induced by the
pandemic, poor enrolment and other issues have forced the closure of as many as 13 primary and
secondary schools, including nine aided schools in
Dakshina Kannada district.
Of the nine
private aided schools, five are located in Mangaluru south and north BEO limits, two in Moodabidri and one each in Bantwal and Belthangady taluks. The four unaided schools are situated in Bantwal (two schools) and one each in Belthangady and Sullia.
Poor admission, especially due to Covid-19, is the major reason for closure of these schools, said Manjula KL, coordinator Samagra Shikshana
Karnataka. Private schools have also been badly hit by government schools switching to
English medium of instruction.
“Students from private aided and unaided schools are migrating to these Kannada-English medium schools, especially if schools are located in close proximity to their homes,” Manjula said.
However, Shree Athmananda Saraswathi Vidyalaya English Medium School Devaragudde in Belthangady decided very early to close for a year due to the pandemic. The school has been providing free education to 350 children from LKG to SSLC. Some children were accommodated on the
premises.
However, an education department official alleged closure of private aided schools in the district is aimed at promoting the institutes’ English medium schools, which are usually situated in the same campus because fees charged for aided schools are much lower. “When the aided school is shut down, there is a good chance that all the students will move to private unaided English medium schools in the same campus,” the official alleged.