SSLC repeat exam: No takers for free coaching in Kalyana Karnataka

Kalaburagi: The teachers of government schools in Kalyana Karnataka are on a door-to-door visit to convince students to attend free coaching classes for two SSLC supplementary examinations. These exams are held for those who could not pass the SSLC exam in the first attempt.

There is a poor response from the students to take free tuitions in the backward region which has been hit by poor pass percentage every year. The officials and experts have attributed the tendency to their socio-economic conditions as most of them prefer to migrate in search of jobs.

A total of 144 schools have recorded zero pass percentage in the state this year, of which 67 are in Kalyana Karnataka. The six out of seven districts in the region have secured last ten positions in SSLC results. The teachers have been struggling hard to ensure that unsuccessful students attend the free tuition, in an effort to improve the pass percentage.

Many rural schools have recorded a meager pass percentage of 10-15.

For instance, only two students out of a total 59 students have passed the SSLC exam (first exam) at Aland government high school for boys.

But, only 11 of them have appeared for free tuition classes. At the same time, 13 students could manage to pass out of 95 students at government high school in Khajuri and only two of them appeared for the free coaching classes.

“Hardly 10% of students are attending free tuition classes though we are visiting every household of failed students. It will be difficult to conduct free classes in addition to door-to-door visits, due to severe shortage of teachers”, government high school headmasters’ association Aland taluk president Mareppa Badiger said.

Impact of poverty

Meanwhile, educationist Sangeetha Kattimani said that poverty has been significantly impacting school attendance, often resulting in lower enrolment, higher drop-out rates and reduced school readiness among children from low-income families. The National Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report has found four districts of Kalyana Karnataka region - Yadgir, Raichur, Kalaburagi and Koppal - to be the poorest in the state, she added.

Kalaburagi division education department addditional secretary Akash Shankar said that the department cannot disturb the teachers during summer vacation as they have holidays during the period. Still, they have been striving by visiting door-to-door to convince the families of the SSLC -failed students to attend free tuition classes. The attendance of the students remains poor as their families struggle for survival. 

“It has been a tough challenge for our teachers to convince the students to attend free tuitions. Most of the families in the region are migrants and daily wage earners. We will prepare the students to develop a study mindset at primary level and hope for a good pass percentage in the long-run”, he said.