A critical delay in appointing permanent teaching and support staff is severely undermining the quality of education for tribal children in ashram schools across Mysuru district. Despite government initiatives to upgrade facilities and expand access, the continued reliance on temporary, outsourced staff is depriving thousands of students of consistent academic and pastoral care.
Infrastructure Upgrades, But a Staffing Crisis
The tribal welfare department established 21 ashram residential schools in the district to promote education among vulnerable tribal groups living in dense forests and fringe villages. These institutions are equipped with modern amenities like solar panels, geysers, UPS systems, clean drinking water, computer labs, and proper furniture. The government has also taken steps to provide quality nutritious food to the pupils.
However, officials and activists confirm that the core need for permanent staff—including teachers, chefs, wardens, and D Group employees—has been overlooked. For the past two decades, the state government has outsourced these services, leading to vacancies and instability. This gap persists even as the government has progressively expanded access: admitting children from classes 1-5 in 2022-23, extending to class 8 from 2023-24, and upgrading schools to pre-university level from the 2024-25 academic session.
Consequences for Students and Overburdened Wardens
The human cost of this administrative failure is stark. Every year, nearly 3,000 students take admission in these schools, with about 2,000 availing hostel facilities. In the absence of permanent caregivers, the system is breaking down.
"As there is no nursing staff, wardens don't stay in the hostels most of the nights," said Marikala, a resident of Basavanagiri tribal hamlet in HD Kote taluk. "In the absence of care-givers, Adivasi children below the fifth standard are forced to return to their hamlets after attending school every night." This daily commute negates the benefit of a residential setup for the youngest and most vulnerable students.
Wardens are stretched thin, often tasked with maintaining at least two ashram schools in every taluk. Marikala also highlighted the urgent need for separate wardens for boys and girls following the introduction of co-education, and vans to transport sick children to hospitals.
Official Response and the Path Forward
While district tribal welfare officer Mallesh stated that the department has alerted officials to adopt adequate measures for appointing permanent staff, the issue remains on the back burner. HD Kote taluk tribal welfare officer Mahesh pointed to efforts in providing the best possible service using outsourced staff.
The situation presents a clear contradiction: substantial investment in infrastructure and nutritional support is being wasted due to the lack of a stable, dedicated human resource backbone. For the tribal children of Mysuru, the promise of quality education through ashram schools will remain unfulfilled until the government prioritizes the recruitment of permanent teachers and support staff to provide the consistent environment these students deserve.
