The districts of Yadgir and Kalaburagi in the Kalyana Karnataka zone continue to lag behind in academic performance, consistently ranking at the bottom in PUC 2 and SSLC board results. Yadgir recorded the lowest pass rate in the 2024–25 PUC exams at 48.45%, with Kalaburagi slightly ahead at 55.70%. In SSLC, Kalaburagi dropped further to 42.4%, while Yadgir stood at 51.6%.
Experts blame this on a severe shortage of teachers, poor attendance, infrastructural neglect, and a growing influence of smartphones and social media. Teacher absenteeism is rampant, and many government schools operate with just one or two teachers handling multiple grades.
Water scarcity, unsanitary toilets, and lack of menstrual hygiene facilities cause dropouts among adolescent girls, especially in rural belts. Many children, under parental pressure or influence of local political figures, skip school to attend rallies or help with farming.
Widespread poverty and early marriage compound the problem. In many cases, girls are married off at 16 or 17, with families fearing elopement or financial strain. Nutrition is also a major concern—government rice schemes don’t compensate for the lack of protein-rich food, resulting in stunted growth and anaemia in children.
Activists argue that despite 371(J) special status, there’s little change due to unresponsive governance, entrenched mindsets, and lack of grassroots-level reform.
Without a shift in attitude among educators, politicians, and families, these districts risk remaining stagnant, despite having immense untapped potential.
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