Latest news with #KREIS
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Despite severe teacher crunch, KREIS students outshine govt schools
BENGALURU: Karnataka's KREIS (Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society) schools continue to outperform government-run ones in board examinations, but a severe shortage of teaching staff threatens to undermine their long-term success. Currently, just 9,000 teachers are responsible for educating over 2.12 lakh students. The demanding nature of these postings has deterred many educators from accepting positions, according to officials from the Social Welfare Department, which oversees the schools. They are urging the government to offer incentives or increase salaries to attract and retain qualified teachers. Despite these challenges, KREIS schools have achieved remarkable academic results this year. They recorded a 91% pass rate in the SSLC exams — significantly higher than the state average of 62.34% — and a 91.64% pass rate in the 2nd PUC exams, far surpassing the 57.11% recorded by government colleges. KREIS operates approximately 822 schools, primarily serving students from severely disadvantaged backgrounds, including children of sanitation workers, nomadic tribes, former Devadasis, rescued bonded labourers and other vulnerable communities. Many of these students are first-generation learners. Impressively, 34.10% of students earned distinctions and 55.90% achieved first-class results. The average score rose from 71.54% last year to 78% this year, and 71 students ranked among the top scorers. Officials credit this success to the KREIS schools' holistic support system. Unlike regular government institutions, these residential schools provide for every basic need — including toiletries, uniforms and textbooks — entirely free of cost. This approach allows students from Classes 6 to 12 to focus entirely on their education, while promoting confidence and self-discipline in a supportive environment. However, the current teacher-student ratio is raising alarms. Officials warn that the burden on existing staff is unsustainable and may compromise the quality of education over time. 'Many teachers avoid KREIS postings due to the high workload and inadequate pay,' said a teacher from a KREIS school in Koppal. 'If this continues, larger class sizes and staff burnout will become the norm. The only way to maintain quality is to improve compensation and provide incentives to attract skilled educators.' In a progressive move this year, the department introduced a policy to admit orphaned children directly into KREIS schools, reserving 50% of seats for them without entrance exams. This initiative aims to protect vulnerable children from exploitation and guarantees free education from Class 6 through Class 12.
Deccan Herald
06-05-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
KREIS schools: A model to emulate
The recently announced SSLC results have thrown light on a remarkable yet often overlooked story – that of the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS). While the overall SSLC pass percentage in the state rose to 62.34% -- a 9% improvement from last year-- KREIS schools have soared far beyond, achieving an exceptional 91% pass rate. This is not just a statistical achievement, it is a demonstration of what can be achieved when government officers are committed and systems are managed with purpose. KREIS, which currently runs 821 schools under the Department of Social Welfare, educates over two lakh students, from the most marginalised communities, including those from nomadic tribes, families of sanitation workers, former Devadasis, rescued bonded labourers, and other underprivileged backgrounds. Many are first-generation learners and despite significant hurdles, they have secured 34.10% distinctions and 55.90% first-class results. With the average scores increasing from 72% last year to 78% this year, the institutions even bagged 71 ranks, including the prestigious third rank success is a testament to the commitment of teachers and administrators. Their collective leadership demonstrates that with focussed governance, even the most underprivileged students can achieve excellence when provided with the right support and direction. However, this achievement also raises an urgent question: If such excellence can be achieved by KREIS schools serving some of the most disadvantaged children, why do regular government schools still linger at a 63% pass rate?.The key differentiator appears to be the comprehensive support system inherent in the KREIS model. These fully residential institutions provide students with everything they need, from basic needs like toothbrushes to essential learning material like textbooks, all free of cost. This holistic approach allows students from Grades 6 to 12 to concentrate solely on their education in an environment that nurtures both academic growth and a strong sense of self-worth. Karnataka should build on this success and expand KREIS schools by leveraging corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to bring much-needed funding into infrastructure, technology, and student welfare. When students from oppressed communities are provided such all-around support, they not only excel academically but also develop the confidence to aim higher in their career paths. The government should continue to empower committed leadership, scale this successful model, and ensure every child in Karnataka has access to quality education. KREIS has shown us what is possible. Other states should take note, while Karnataka should ensure that this shining example becomes a norm, not an exception.
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
KREIS schools for underprivileged prove merit need not be privilege, with 71 state ranks
Bengaluru, Sixteen-year-old Bhumika Suresh Vokkalinga is one among the 34,984 students from Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society schools who appeared for the SSLC exams this academic year, held between March 21 and April 4. Bhumika, who has scored 624 out of 625, is also one among the three second state rank holders from KREIS schools, which saw 71 students secure state ranks . KREIS is an association of residential educational institutions in Karnataka that provides free residential education to socially and economically disadvantaged children. The schools under KREIS which at present stands at 788 have consistently outperformed not only government schools but also unaided private schools, said S S Nagesh, Joint Director, KRIES. This academic year, for instance, KREIS schools boast a pass rate of 91 per cent, 28.66 per cent more than the state average of 62.34 per cent. The school targets children like Bhumika, said Nagesh. Bhumika, who is from a tiny village called Harekoppa in Siddapura taluk in Uttara Kanada district, is the first in her family to have passed SSLC. Both her parents are labourers who work for daily wages. Bhumika said it was her village elders who suggested she apply to KREIS school, seeing that she was good at her studies. "Because it was a residential school, I could devote all my time to studies. Had I been at home, I would have had to chip in with household chores and help my mother in looking after my younger siblings," Bhumika told PTI over the phone. Nagesh said KREIS schools specifically cater to the children of most marginalised communities. "These include nomadic tribes, sanitation workers, former Devadasis, rescued bonded labourers, differently-abled individuals, crematorium workers, single parents, rag pickers," added Nagesh. Speaking to PTI, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, under whose jurisdiction the KREIS schools fall, said the students of KREIS schools may have come from marginalised communities, but have consistently excelled academically, outperforming their peers across the state. Of the 31,726 passed this year, 34.10 per cent secured distinction marks, while 55.90 per cent of students got first class, said an educational consultant to KREIS schools, tasked with preparing a report of comparative analysis of the performance of KREIS schools and colleges. "The average score stood at 78 per cent, reflecting the students' outstanding performance," he told PTI, on condition of anonymity. Mohan G M, from Gullahalli in Banglore Rural, who is studying in Morarji Desai Residential School in Bengaluru Rural said he learnt to study smartly, thanks to his teachers. "My life changed when I joined KREIS five years ago. Before that I was a day scholar at GHPS Gullahalli," said Mohan, who has obtained third rank in the state with a score of 623 out of 625. Mohan said Maths used to be his weakest subject. "But with the help of my teachers, who made me go through previous years' question papers and model question papers, I managed to fix my weakness and score 100 per cent," said Mohan, whose father is a daily labourer too and mother a housewife. Mohan said as far as he could remember he aspired to become an IAS officer. But it is only after he joined KREIS school, he could give a concrete shape to his dream. "Now, I have got it all planned. After I graduate, I will take the Civil Services Examination. I am already watching all the YouTube tutorials on UPSC exam preparation," added Mohan. Mohan credits the career counselling in his school for his confidence. Bhumika, on the other hand, nurses the dream of becoming a doctor someday. Bhumika, who joined Kittur Rani Chennamma Residential School in Kvanchur in Class Seven, said her family could hardly afford the treatment for her ailing grandfather. "I kind of made a vow to myself: That I will break the cycle of poverty and will also become a doctor. That has been my motivation to spend 10 to 11 hours almost every day preparing for my examinations," said Bhumika. Over the years, the residential schools have gained popularity due to their quality education, benefiting lakhs of children, added Nagesh. But although KREIS schools have consistently scored more than state average since 2019-2020, the pass percentage of the schools have also fallen from 99.10 per cent in 2021-2022 to 91 per cent in 2024-2025. Nagesh said this is because, during and just after the Covid pandemic, students were getting grace marks. "This year, the government has completely done away with grace marks because Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board has introduced a three-exam system for SSLC to provide students with multiple opportunities. This is one of the reasons for the fall in the pass percentage of KREIS schools," added Nagesh. According to him, this is the overall trend prevailing in the state. "Yes, there's room for improvement. But the fact that KREIS schools managed to outshine even private schools in the state by 15.41 per cent shows that we are on the right track," he added.
