CAG report highlights poor state of government schools in Karnataka

Background

 The audit focused on Karnataka’s progress in primary education during the five-year period from 2017-18 to 2021-22. The aim was to assess whether the state met its goals of universal access to primary education, equitable learning opportunities, and improved education quality in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The CAG selected eight districts representing varied socio-economic conditions and geographical diversity: Bengaluru Rural, Mysuru, Raichur, Shivamogga, Ballari, Chamarajanagar, Bagalkot, and Sirsi (educational district).

These districts encompass 16 Block Education Offices and 128 schools that were scrutinized for their performance.

The audit sought to evaluate access to primary education across the state, equity in learning opportunities for disadvantaged groups, including girls and children with special needs, and the effectiveness of government interventions to enhance learning outcomes.

The performance audit combined on-ground inspections, analysis of education department records, and interviews with stakeholders. Additionally, a cohort analysis tracked the progress of first-grade students enrolled in 2017-18 over a four-year period.

Key Findings

Enrollment and Retention Challenges:

The net enrollment rate in primary education failed to meet the goals. Many children remain out of school despite various schemes aimed at increasing enrollment.

Despite an increase in Net Enrollment Ratio (NER) from 89.17% in 2017-18 to 94.81% in 2021-22, the state missed its 100% target. Dropout rates were reported as low as 0.17%, but SATS data revealed unaccounted dropouts, casting doubts on the accuracy of reported figures.

Infrastructure Deficiencies:

The audit revealed critical gaps in infrastructure:

• 19,799 schools lack playgrounds.
• 393 schools remain without electricity.
• 90% of schools lack library facilities.

Teacher Shortages and Deployment Issues:

The number of single-teacher schools surged from 4,652 to 6,616 during the audit period. Subject-specific teacher shortages and imbalances in teacher deployment continue to plague rural schools.

Although the student-teacher ratio remains within the prescribed limit of 30:1, it has steadily increased from 21.43:1 in 2017-18 to 26.19:1 in 2021-22. This trend is worrisome, with rural primary schools bearing the brunt of the imbalance.

The number of single-teacher schools also rose from 4,652 in 2017-18 to 6,616 in 2021-22, with 6,239 of these schools located in rural areas.

Budget Constraints:

The state allocated less than 2% of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to education, significantly lower than the recommended 4–6%. The funding gap of ₹14,527 crore for primary and secondary education remains unaddressed.

Policy Implementation Delays:

Karnataka’s adoption of NEP 2020 reforms remains incomplete. Key proposals, including restructuring school curricula and establishing school clusters, are yet to be implemented.

Need for Reforms

The CAG has urged the government to prioritize long-term planning, robust data collection, and community involvement to address these shortcomings. Without immediate action, the state risks further decline in education quality, hindering its Vision 2030 and SDG goals.