For the academic year 2024-25, a significant number of Right to Education (RTE) seats remain vacant in Dakshina Kannada, with 408 out of the allocated 458 seats unfilled. This trend of underutilization continues from previous years, where only 42 seats were filled out of 440 in 2023-24, and 45 out of 479 in 2022-23.
This year, seats have only been filled in Mangaluru North (29 seats), Mangaluru South (13 seats), Belthangady (5 seats), and Moodbidri (3 seats). In contrast, Puttur, Sullia, and Bantwal BEOs have a combined 117 seats, none of which have been taken even after two rounds of allotment.
Officials attribute this disparity to parental preference for unaided private schools over aided schools, which are more prevalent in rural areas. An RTE case worker highlighted that many parents perceive aided schools as inferior and are thus inclined towards private institutions, explaining why the highest number of admissions are in urban areas like Mangaluru North and South.
Despite interest in urban areas, rural parents show little enthusiasm for RTE admissions, compounded by financial burdens imposed by schools on parents who do secure seats. These additional costs deter many families from pursuing education under the RTE Act.
In the first round of admissions for this year, 61 seats were allotted under RTE, with only 38 taken. In the second round, 23 seats were allotted, and only 12 were accepted. Except for Sullia and Puttur, all other BEOs had seats allotted under RTE in both rounds.