As statistics go, this one tells a depressing story. Not one person in 2,021 villages, with a population of over 200, is a graduate. This startling data was collated by the Department of Collegiate Education (DCE) from 28 districts across the State.
The data for two districts is still not available. According to the 2011 census, there are 27,586 villages in Karnataka.
Kolar has the maximum number of 212 villages without a graduate. With four villages, Kodagu has the least number of villages without a graduate. However, the department did not reveal the total number of villages in each district.
ADVERTISEMENT
The department, in an attempt to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), has asked its officials to find out why none of the residents of these villages wanted to pursue graduation. During a video conference held last week, officials were asked to carry out initiatives to ensure that the GER improves. They were told to see that nodal officers are appointed in each district and at the taluk level. “Officials have been told to visit such villages at least once a month to identify the hurdles that are preventing students from pursuing higher education,” an official in the department said. They have been asked to devise unique methods to encourage the youth to complete their graduation.
Pointing out one loophole in the data, a principal of a Bengaluru college said: “There may be residents of these villages who have migrated to towns and cities to complete their education,” he said.
Nevertheless, the department decided to pursue this on a ‘war footing’. “Even if one person in the village completes a degree, this will have a ripple effect in the community,” an official said.
ADVERTISEMENT
H. Prakash, president, Karnataka Government College Teachers’ Association, said the numbers show that there is a need for the State government to maintain a database to track children who join schools and ensure that they continue till graduation.