Learning levels in Bengaluru lag behind state average, report finds

Only 18% of Bengaluru Class 3–5 students can read Class 2 text; arithmetic skills also lag, showing post-Covid learning gaps

A recent Child Rights Index (CRI) report released by the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has revealed that learning ability among children in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts remains significantly below the state average. The findings highlight serious concerns about reading and arithmetic skills among students in Classes 3 to 5, with performance levels still struggling to recover from the setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the report, only 17.6% of children in Bengaluru Urban and 17.3% in Bengaluru Rural can read a Class 2 textbook, far below the state average. Arithmetic skills also show worrying gaps, with less than half of children in both districts able to solve simple subtraction problems. The study emphasizes that four years after pandemic-related school closures, children have not regained pre-pandemic levels of learning.

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The report, prepared by researchers S. Madheswaran and B. P. Vani from the Institute for Social and Economic Change, also draws on data from the Annual Status of Education Report 2024. It notes that in rural Karnataka, only about one-third of Class 3 students can read Class 2 level text, with girls performing slightly better than boys. Arithmetic ability remains weak across grades, with less than 40% of Class 5 students able to solve basic division problems.

Experts point to multiple factors behind this decline. Teacher training has been identified as a major challenge, with many educators lacking adequate skills despite formal qualifications. Limited opportunities for professional development and outdated teaching practices have further compounded the issue. Another concern is the stagnation of state board textbooks, which have not been revised for nearly two decades. This has prompted many parents to opt for CBSE and ICSE curricula, which are perceived to offer more relevant and updated content.

The report also stresses the importance of motivating teachers through incentives for adopting new classroom methods, while highlighting the role of parents in monitoring learning outcomes. Strengthening infrastructure, updating textbooks, and involving families more actively in the education process are seen as critical steps to improve reading and problem-solving abilities among children in Bengaluru and across Karnataka.

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