The academic year 2024–25 marked a significant milestone in Karnataka’s education journey, as the first cohort of students admitted under the Right to Education (RTE) Act appeared for their board exams. Despite facing financial hardships and lacking access to private tuition or coaching, several RTE students delivered inspiring performances.
At MES Kishore Kendra Public School in Vidyaranyapura, one RTE student secured an impressive 96%. The school’s principal, Champadevi T R, shared that the student, whose family chose to remain anonymous, had been with the school since LKG. “She had no access to tuitions and received no academic help at home. Her success is purely the result of her determination and support from our teachers,” Champadevi said. Her father, a bag repairer at a bus stop, managed to continue her education beyond Class 8 with some fee concessions from the school.
Another RTE success story is K Sahana, a student of Regency School who scored 90%. Her father, Kannan R, a painter, expressed pride in her self-discipline. “She studied on her own and succeeded,” he said. Her principal, Rama Karthik, noted how RTE students often face social and emotional challenges. “Many feel disheartened when labelled as RTE quota students, but Sahana remained focused.”
Samhitha Krishnamoorthy of Notre Dame School, daughter of a farmer and a school administrator, also scored 90%. “I wished I had tuitions like my friends, but hard work got me through,” she shared.
These students are the first to cross the Class 10 milestone under RTE, as the Act only covers education up to Class 8. Their achievements underscore the importance of continued support beyond the RTE mandate.
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