Half of State girls shun school

Lack of facilities discourages enrolment even at primary level

The very fact that Karnataka’s enrolment percentage of girls at classes I to V is almost at par with national average—48.40 per cent vis-à-vis 48.38—should not be a matter of solace as figures have remained stagnant since 2006.

Statistics compiled by National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) have showed that for classes I to V the enrolment rate in 2006-07 was 48.40 per cent. It rose to 48.44 in 2007-08 and dipped to 48.40 in 2008-09.

The enrolment rates for classes VI to VIII showed the same trend—47.96 in 2006-07, 48.28 in 2007-08 and down to 48.21 in 2008-09.

Perhaps one set of statistics, which could explain the low enrolment, was that of schools having girls’ toilet. Even now about 58 per cent of primary schools in Karnataka do not have girls’ toilet. While in 2007-08 around 35 per cent schools had such a facility, there was only a meagre 6 per cent increase in 2008-09.

Around 30 per cent of the schools in 2008-09 did not have boundary walls and 22 per cent lacked drinking water facility.

Even in terms of percentage of schools with female teachers, Karnataka has an average score of 81.42 per cent. When compared with other South Indian states, it is surpassed by Kerala (99.38), Tamil Nadu (93.88) and Puducherry (95.81). Only Andhra Pradesh with 78.68 per cent schools having women teachers has a lower score than Karnataka.

Muslim girls better

However, Karnataka has scored better than the national average when it comes to sending Muslim girls to primary schools. Whereas a little above 50 per cent Muslim girls in Karnataka are enrolled for elementary (including both primary and upper primary classes) education, the national average is around 49 per cent.

While 50 per cent Muslim girls went to primary schools in 2008-09, the national average was around 48 per cent. The enrolment percentage in the upper primary classes was 51 per cent compared to 50 per cent.

The state is a better performer compared to national average even when it comes to enrolment of ST girls—48 per cent vis-à-vis 46 per cent in upper primary classes.
Karnataka is almost at par with the national average in the enrolment of SC and OBC girls. While it is 48.29 per cent (national average 48.09) in case of SC girls, the figure is 48.86 per cent (national average 48.22) in case of their OBC friends.