The Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on education systems around the world, and Karnataka was no exception. A recent report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed alarming findings regarding the state’s private schools overcharging students, exacerbating the challenges faced by already struggling families. With over Rs 345 crore collected in excess fees during the 2020-21 academic year, the situation highlights not only a financial crisis but also deep-rooted issues in the state’s educational framework. Let’s explore the crisis’s impact on families and students, analyse the government and regulatory failures, and examine proposals for reform that could transform this crisis into an opportunity for long-term improvement.
Impact on Families: A Financial Strain Like Never Before
The pandemic left many families grappling with financial hardships. According to a report by NGOs working in Bengaluru, over 140 children in just three wards dropped out of school because their parents could no longer afford to pay fees. This wasn’t an isolated incident. Nationally, the dropout rate surged as families struggled with lost livelihoods, unstable incomes, and soaring educational costs. In Karnataka, more than 71,000 students have dropped out of school over the past six years, with an alarming 18,461 children leaving the system in 2022-23 alone.
The data from Samagra Shikshana Karnataka highlights that a staggering 13,267 children in the age group of 6-14, who fall under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, dropped out of school. These are children legally entitled to free education, yet the pandemic-induced financial strain led to widespread exclusion. Families from marginalised communities – Dalits, OBCs, and migrant groups – bore the brunt of this crisis. The report notes that around 25% of parents in private schools failed to pay fees during the pandemic, contributing significantly to dropout rates. A study from Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College in Kalaburagi found that these financial constraints were particularly severe in urban slums, where parents often prioritised survival over education.
These findings are mirrored in larger studies, such as one conducted by Azim Premji University, which analysed the impact of school closures on 16,067 children across 1,137 schools in Karnataka. The study confirmed severe learning losses, noting that many children who dropped out may never return to school, exacerbating the gap in educational equity.
Government and Regulatory Failures
While the pandemic undeniably posed unprecedented challenges, the CAG’s findings highlight critical gaps in Karnataka’s education system that were further exposed during the crisis. The CAG’s report specifically criticised the state’s School Education and Literacy Department for its failure to regulate private school fee collections effectively. Private unaided schools in Karnataka were found to have overcharged students to the tune of Rs 345.80 crore during the 2020-21 academic year, despite clear court directives to the contrary.
The state’s lack of a proper mechanism to monitor fee collection and a glaring absence of a regulatory framework for online schools contributed to these oversights. The report also noted that the government failed to adequately oversee the growing disparities in education quality during the pandemic, with online learning largely inaccessible to children from poor and marginalised communities. This regulatory failure further deepened existing inequalities, with children in urban slums and rural areas falling further behind.
Government data from the Ministry of Education paints a bleak picture of the broader trend. Karnataka’s dropout rate in 2020-21 stood at 14.6%, well above the national average of 12.6%. As seen in Kalaburagi district, where only 15.85% of enrolled students were attending school by March 2021, it’s clear that the state’s education system is still struggling to recover from the shock of the pandemic.
Reform Proposals: Turning the Tide
Given the severity of the crisis, the Karnataka government has begun to take steps to address the persistent issues of dropout rates and educational inequity. One of the key reforms is the new State Education Policy (SEP), which aims to overhaul the education system and improve retention rates, particularly for children from vulnerable backgrounds.
Focus on Early Intervention and Retention Strategies: One of the central proposals of the SEP is the introduction of early warning systems to identify students at risk of dropping out. These systems would enable educators to intervene at the earliest stages, providing targeted support before students disengage completely. To support these efforts, awareness campaigns would be launched, particularly in marginalised communities where dropout rates are highest.
Support for Vulnerable Populations: The SEP also focuses on integrating out-of-school children back into mainstream education through special training programmes. This is especially important for migrant children and those from marginalised groups, many of whom were disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Additionally, the policy includes provisions for counselling services to address the psychological challenges faced by students in the post-pandemic era, ensuring that emotional and mental health are not sidelined in the drive for educational recovery.
Improvement in Infrastructure: Inadequate school facilities were another barrier to education during the pandemic. The SEP seeks to improve infrastructure in schools, particularly in rural areas, ensuring that schools are better equipped to handle both in-person and hybrid learning models. This includes enhancing digital infrastructure, which is vital to avoid the digital divide that left many students unable to access online learning during the lockdown.
Monitoring and Accountability: The SEP emphasises data-driven approaches to track dropout rates and assess the effectiveness of interventions. By conducting regular surveys and assessments, the government aims to improve transparency and accountability, ensuring that schools and districts are held responsible for educational outcomes.
Teacher Training and Development: To ensure that educators are equipped to address the needs of diverse learners, the SEP proposes continuous professional development. This will help teachers effectively manage classrooms, adapt to different learning styles, and engage students more effectively, particularly those who may have fallen behind due to the pandemic.
Future Prospects: A Long Road Ahead
Karnataka’s education system, like that of many other states, is at a crossroads. The findings of the CAG report serve as a wake-up call, shedding light on long-standing systemic issues that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. However, they also present an opportunity for meaningful reform. The proposals in the new State Education Policy, if implemented effectively, could lead to a more equitable and resilient education system.
However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. Addressing the deep-rooted issues of dropout rates, financial exclusion, and infrastructural deficiencies will require sustained efforts and substantial investment. The state will need to ensure that its reforms are inclusive, reaching those most affected by the crisis, and that regulatory bodies are empowered to hold private schools accountable.
As Karnataka looks to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, it must seize this moment to create an education system that is not only resilient in the face of future crises but also equitable and accessible to all children, regardless of their socio-economic background.