Vinobha KT | TNNMangaluru: Nearly 34 primary schools across Dakshina Kannada, including 20 govt schools, have recorded zero admissions to class I this academic year.According to officials, the primary reason behind this is the growing preference among parents towards Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), PM Shri Schools and English-medium education for their children. The figures indicate an increase in zero-enrollment institutions compared to the previous academic year. In 2025–26, eight govt schools had registered zero admissions for the entry-level class. However, officials say that the trend has not affected the quality of education, and it was just a shift in the preference of schools.DDPI Shashidhar GS said that 20 government primary schools have recorded zero enrolment in the current academic year, but it may be reopened at any time.
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“This is just a temporary issue and not a permanent closure of schools. Those schools will have three year’s time, and the school with good admissions may be reopened next year. All remaining students from those schools, which are closed due to the zero admissions in primary schools, have already shifted to KPS, PM Shri or any other nearby govt schools. It has not affected students or parents. Students were shifted to govt schools considering the quality education offered at KPS, PM SHRI and other govt schools,” he said.Dakshina Kannada has 20 PM Shri schools and nine KPS, he said, adding that the district has been sanctioned 20 more KPS. The DDPI noted that the state govt has already implemented the bilingual education programme in five districts on a pilot basis. Dakshina Kannada is one among them. With the introduction of bilingual instruction across all govt schools in the district this year, the department anticipates a steady rise in student enrolments in the coming years, he added
