Bengaluru: Around 35,000 children in Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits are not attending school

A recent survey by the Centre for e-Governance has revealed that around 35,000 children in the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits are not attending school. However, GBA officials have expressed concerns that these numbers may be inflated, and have announced plans for a thorough verification process.

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The Karnataka H2H Children Survey, which was conducted door-to-door, aims to identify children who have either failed to enroll or dropped out of school, in line with the constitutional mandate of free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 under Article 21A. A senior GBA official reportedly emphasized that the survey, which began in February, might show inflated figures as it continued through the summer months when many children are at home.

To validate the findings, the GBA plans to cross-check the data against the Student Achievement Tracking System (SATS) ID and information from the state education department. Additionally, the Kutumba database, a social registry of households, will be used for further verification. The official estimated the actual number of dropouts in Bengaluru to be closer to 3,000, citing the city’s ample availability of government schools.

35,000 figure is not exaggerated

Educationists argue that the 35,000 figure is not exaggerated. They stressed that migration to Bengaluru contributes significantly to school dropout rates, highlighting the need for a comprehensive strategy to reintegrate these children into education.