<p>Migration of labourers in Bengaluru has remained one of the main contributors to the higher number of out-of-school children in the state, according to education department officials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Three districts — Ballari, Bengaluru South and Kalaburagi — have, over the years, shown a high number of children who are out of school. The state's education department has attributed this primarily to parents moving out of districts and migrating to Bengaluru in search of jobs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), 14,192 children have been identified to be out of schools across the state this year alone. This, however, is less than the numbers in 2017-18 when 17,005 were believed to be out of schools.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In 2016-17 and 2017-18, Bengaluru South reported over 2,000 children as not being part of mainstream education system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An official from Bengaluru South attributed this to migration of labourers into the city. "We are a cosmopolitan city and see a lot of labourers coming in. One must understand that even street vendors are high in number. Many a time, migrant labourers do not get their children enrolled in schools. Hence the numbers," he said. With Bengaluru having a population of over one crore, the number was proportionately less, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ballari also has seen similar numbers. This district reported figures as high as 5,018 in 2016-17 and 2,619 in 2017-18, making it the highest in the state.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An official from the Gulbarga Division, under which the district falls, explained that parents' lack of interest was the primary reason here. "Some parents are reluctant to send children to school as they think they would be of help with labour or on agriculture fields," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Besides, when the parents migrate to other cities in search of jobs, the children are also taken along, thereby discontinuing their education. He, however, said that the numbers here have reduced significantly.</p>.<p class="bodytext">S Honnamba, director, SSA, said, "The numbers have dropped over the years. In Karnataka, the figures are high in those districts that see seasonal migration, mostly of agricultural labourers."</p>
<p>Migration of labourers in Bengaluru has remained one of the main contributors to the higher number of out-of-school children in the state, according to education department officials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Three districts — Ballari, Bengaluru South and Kalaburagi — have, over the years, shown a high number of children who are out of school. The state's education department has attributed this primarily to parents moving out of districts and migrating to Bengaluru in search of jobs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), 14,192 children have been identified to be out of schools across the state this year alone. This, however, is less than the numbers in 2017-18 when 17,005 were believed to be out of schools.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In 2016-17 and 2017-18, Bengaluru South reported over 2,000 children as not being part of mainstream education system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An official from Bengaluru South attributed this to migration of labourers into the city. "We are a cosmopolitan city and see a lot of labourers coming in. One must understand that even street vendors are high in number. Many a time, migrant labourers do not get their children enrolled in schools. Hence the numbers," he said. With Bengaluru having a population of over one crore, the number was proportionately less, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ballari also has seen similar numbers. This district reported figures as high as 5,018 in 2016-17 and 2,619 in 2017-18, making it the highest in the state.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An official from the Gulbarga Division, under which the district falls, explained that parents' lack of interest was the primary reason here. "Some parents are reluctant to send children to school as they think they would be of help with labour or on agriculture fields," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Besides, when the parents migrate to other cities in search of jobs, the children are also taken along, thereby discontinuing their education. He, however, said that the numbers here have reduced significantly.</p>.<p class="bodytext">S Honnamba, director, SSA, said, "The numbers have dropped over the years. In Karnataka, the figures are high in those districts that see seasonal migration, mostly of agricultural labourers."</p>
