Mangaluru: Several schools in Dakshina Kannada are grappling with a stark reality — no new students enrolling. This academic year, 13 institutions, including six government and aided schools, have reported zero admissions so far. Data from the Department of School Education and Literacy reveals this isn’t a one-time occurrence — annually, over 10 schools in the district face the same issue.
As of the 2024–25 academic year, 14 schools have not enrolled a single student. Govinda Madivala, the District Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), stated that enrolment is still open until the month’s end. According to the Student Achievement Tracking System, 13 schools have registered no new admissions to Class I — six are government-run lower primary schools, and one is a special school in Surathkal. The list also includes two aided high schools, three aided primary schools, and one private institution.
Despite these zero-admission cases, the overall district enrolment is projected to touch last year’s figure of about 3.3 lakh students.
Officials highlight that the waning appeal of Kannada medium schools, coupled with a rising demand for English and bilingual education, has played a major role. The district now has 238 bilingual schools, with more gaining approval recently.
In the aided sector, lack of full-time staff and the financial burden of hiring temporary teachers are discouraging admissions. Schools like Swami Muktananda Paramahamsa HPS, St Philomena HPS, and Saverapura Kiripushpa HPS are among those with no enrolments.