In Mysore, school’s not kids' favourite

Mysore: The number of school dropouts in Mysore district has almost doubled in the past three years as per a survey taken up by the Department of Public Instruction in the District.

While there were as many as 2,530 school dropouts in 2010, there are as many as 5921dropouts including 3220 boys and 2701 girls in the district now. Shockingly, as many as 25 kids have kept away due to the unhealthy atmosphere at schools while five kids remained away due to the fear of teachers. But the increase in the migrant population, working parents and  elder kids being forced to take care of younger ones have been found to be the major reasons for children remaining out of schools, Deputy Director, Department of Public Instruction, H.R. Basappa claims.

“With Programmes like Chinnara Angala and bridge school programmes, although we have been able to bring back 2153 kids to school but  2768 kids still remain out of school,” he added.

While Mysore North taluk has the highest of 1320 dropouts, KR Nagar taluk has the lowest of 297 dropouts in the district.

As per the survey, while as many as 114 kids were found to be out of schools in the district due to non availability of schools, 25 kids were found to be runaway kids. As many as 617 children were forced to work as child workers, including domestic work and other forms of work while 264 kids earned their livelihood on their own. 475 kids remained outside due to child marriage and reasons related to attainment of puberty. Two were found to be street kids and 216 were special kids.

To bring the kids  back to school, 216 kids are being given home based bridge school courses.  Under Chinnara Angala, a three month residential programme is being offered to 857 kids and  a three-month non-residential programme to 409 kids. Also, 101 kids are given special training with residential facilities, 270 kids are sent to Chinnara thangu dhama special residential training programme, 53 kids are being sent to tent schools, 3260 kids are being given school oriented courses. Also a plan of action has been prepared to educate 455 kids by housing them in hostels.