Mangalore: Mangalore tops in the out of school children list, in Dakshina Kannada district,  according to the survey conducted by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

As per the survey report, there are 1,470 out of school children including 846 boys and 624 girls in Dakshina Kannada. Out of six education blocks of the district, Mangalore South is  in the top with 368 out of school children. Mangalore North is in second place with 358 out of school children, followed by Bantwal (314), Puttur (134), Belthangady (108), Moodabidri (103) and Sullia with a minimum 86 out of school children. However, the number of out of school girl children is less compared to the boys.

Among out of school children, majority of them are school dropouts. There were 1,421 school dropouts, including 816 boys and 605 girls. Once again Mangalore South block has topped the list with 352 dropouts, followed by Mangalore North (346), Bantwal (307), Puttur (131), Moodabidri (102), Belthangady (100) and Sullia (83). In the household survey conducted by the SSA, it was found that 49 children in the age group of 7 and 14 have never enrolled their names in the schools. In Mangalore alone, 27 children have never entered the portals of the school.

OBC, Muslims miss school

Survey report said that most of the children belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Muslim community miss the school compared to others. About 22 children belonging to OBC category, which is highest in the district, have not enrolled their names in the school. It is followed by 13 children belonging to Muslim community. Even in drop out children’s list, the number of OBC children is at the top with 547. About 374 Muslim children have dropped out of the school. On a whole, 569 children (OBC) and 387 (Muslim) children are out of school.

Migration

Education activist and Padi Director Rennie D’Souza said that migration of parents keeps many children out of school in cities. “When people migrate from place to place children can not continue with their education. In a few cases, names are enrolled in schools but they never attend classes. Children from other states face language problem to continue with their schooling. A few students do not collect transfer certificate when they leave the school, which is considered as school dropout,” he said.

There are a few children who can not study because of poor health, poverty or problems in school. These issues should be dealt with. D’Souza said that the out of school children can be checked to some extent by providing necessary infrastructure to schools.