As many as 90% of teachers in aided primary schools, a majority of which are run by minority institutions catering to students from economically backward strata, have retired over the years. The show is now run by guest faculty. Unable to sustain financially, at least 10 aided schools are shutting down every year, according to the department of school education and literacy.

It is expected that even those 10% of permanent teachers will retire in another two or three years, and aided schools, not just in Dakshina Kannada, but across Karnataka, will not have full-time teachers. Sources said there have been no recruitments for the past 23 years to aided schools, and those recruited prior to that are on the verge of retirement.

Take the example of Mai De Deus Higher Primary School, Puttur, which has over 750 students, but only three permanent teachers, with two of them retiring soon. The institution, under the Catholic Board of Education, has appointed close to a dozen guest teachers, with salaries paid by the church.

Fr Praveen Leo Lasrado, secretary, CBE, Mangaluru, said that the govt’s apathy in not appointing permanent teachers is directly affecting children from poor backgrounds who seek quality education. “As a result of non- appointment, the board is closing down at least 10 primary aided schools each academic year. The numbers will increase in the coming year if no measures are taken,” he added. Another reason is that aided institutions are not financially supported by the govt like earlier.

Echoing Fr Lasrado’s views, senior officials from the education department shared that aided institutions did provide education on par with private institutions. However, as there are no permanent teachers and the govt has stopped funding they are shutting down, an official pointed out.

A block education officer suggested that these institutions can be revived if the govt provides guest faculty, similar to what is done with govt schools.