Dinesh Nayak N for Times News Network

Mangalore, Jun 2: Children taking admission in our school will get free education. They will be provided free books and learning material, uniforms, school bags and midday meal.

Children will be taught basic English from 1st standard. We will ensure the children are proficient in English as their counterparts in English medium schools.

These banners put up at two Kannada medium schools in the city speak volumes about the fierce competition these schools are forced into to lure students. With a growing tendency among parents to prefer English medium over Kannada medium, these schools, which once used to be reputed institutions, are struggling to survive.

Though they have started an English section, the low turnout in the Kannada section has made them worry as lack of minimum strength means loss of government aid and approval for the teacher’s post.

Every passing year the number of students is dwindling in all Kannada schools. In Ganapathi Higher Primary School, the strength for 1st standard is as less as 3-4 and in the primary section 18.

Headmaster Mangesh Bhat said they have to rely on children from the lower strata to maintain a minimum balance. Though the school offers free books, umbrellas, meals and computer training for the Kannada medium students we could not attract sufficient number of children, he said.

The condition is no different in Canara Higher Primary School. According to headmistress Kalpana M Shet, the admission was 5 per cent less than the last year. They could not reach the minimum strength in the 1st standard this year.

The low student turnout in the primary level is affecting high schools too. Canara High School headmistress Damayanthi said the 5-6 sections in Kannada medium are reduced to 3 sections. As the number of sections reduces, the school will lose posts of teachers, she said.