2009/05/14

60% of kids in N Karnataka are drop-outs

The Times of India

The numbers are almost three years old, but indicative of the development, or lack of it, in the state. The citizens' report on governance and development 2008-09, brought out by Social Watch Karnataka, highlights the lack of development in vital areas like primary education and excesses of Parliament.

BANGALORE: The numbers are almost three years old, but indicative of the development, or lack of it, in the state. The citizens' report on governance and development 2008-09, brought out by Social Watch Karnataka on Wednesday, highlights the lack of development in vital areas like primary education and excesses of Parliament.

The report shows very low participation and completion rates in elementary education in seven districts of the north and east. About 60% of out-of-school children were from the five districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka and two districts of Bombay-Karnataka region. The pupil-teacher ratio looks up though, as per the report. Between 2002-03 and 2004-05, the ratio in government schools in the state showed better figures than all schools put together, though the state average is 33.

Vasudev Sharma, child rights activist, said the main reasons why there were school drop-outs were lack of school infrastructure, electricity, water supply, separate toilets for girls and playgrounds. The records obtained while preparing the report did not mention libraries at all.

He also said that most of the data the organisation asked for was not made available. Moreover, the statistics were old because he said the process of obtaining data was a lengthy one that often took several months.

The report also elaborates on the performance of Parliament and politicians. There has been a steady decline in the number of Parliament sittings. While the cost of running Parliament was as low as Rs 100 per minute in 1951, it increased to Rs 18,430 per minute in 2004-05 and to Rs 26,000 per minute in later years.

The report also found that the attendance of celebrity MPs was dismal. Question hour, which constitutes 9-10% of total time of Parliament, was full of several generic questions and sought information that was easily available on different government websites. The Social Watch Report found a lack of seriousness in the asking and answering of questions.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/60-of-kids-in-N-Karnataka-are-drop-outs/articleshow/4526601.cms

About India  
About Social Watch in India  
Publications by Social Watch Focal Point in India 
See news about India