Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district is witnessing a noticeable shift in parental preferences, with a growing call for girls-only colleges, particularly from minority communities.
In response, the Karnataka government has approved the establishment of two new girls-only institutions in Mangaluru’s Ullal constituency, represented by Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader.
The Department of Minorities has allocated ₹17 crore for a comprehensive education complex between Konaje and Pajir, which will offer education from primary to degree level. The facility will accommodate both residential and day scholars. Simultaneously, the Waqf Department will launch a PU girls’ college in Ullal town, with both institutions following a 75:25 seat ratio for minority and non-minority students.
This development aligns with a growing regional trend. In Derlakatte, a co-educational PU college was transformed into a girls-only institution last year due to low male enrolment and disciplinary concerns. Of the 91 students in 2022–23, only 41 were boys. The transition, proposed by the College Development Committee led by Khader, received parental backing.
Officials cite the 2022 hijab controversy as a key turning point, leading to increased dropout rates among Muslim girls after Class 10 and PUC, particularly when nearby girls-only options are lacking. Parental concerns over safety, cultural norms, and early marriage also contribute to the shift.
Government women’s colleges show a 25–30% Muslim enrolment, notably higher than in co-ed institutions. As a result, the Karnataka budget includes plans for 15 new women’s colleges on Waqf land in 2024–25, with 16 more to follow in the next year.