At 22.2%, Karnataka's secondary level school dropout rate is above the national average. This startling figure for Classes 9 and 10 in 2023โ24 places the state among the highest in the country.
But numbers alone don't tell the whole story. Behind every statistic is a childโoften at a crossroads, facing difficult choices.
This week, through Sankalpa For Change, we held a life skills session with students from Classes 8 and 9, asking some essential questions:
- Why is school important?
- Why continue education?
- And what can we do when education is interrupted?
What followed was a moving, real conversation. Students shared their dreams, their doubts, and even quotes that inspired them.
One student quietly said: "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."
A powerful reminder that while the journey may be tough, what lies ahead is worth it.
Another shift happened toward the end of the session. A deeper realisation took root in the room โ "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
We closed with the reminder that knowledge is a treasure no one can steal.
And for many in the room, school began to feel not like a burden โ but like a bridge.
๐ข๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด. ๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ. A seed of self-worth, possibility, and hope.