Regional Disparity in Literacy and Numeracy Skill Among Children in Primary School

Leaving no one behind requires improving human capital to make informed decisions in all walks of life, including those related to breaking out from the vicious cycle of intergenerational poverty. Investing in human development requires a heavy focus on education. While the Millennium Development Goals focused on increasing student enrolment, the SDGs placed particular emphasis on improving the quality of education and learning outcomes. The shift in the approach towards school education from input to outcome-based interventions has put the education sector on a new pedestal. While SDG 4 focuses on equity, inclusion and quality of education, it also aims to build and upgrade education facilities that are sensitive to the needs of children and persons with disabilities (SDG India Index and Dashboard 2019-20 Report). The primary objectives of this paper are to provide an overview of the current status of primary school education in Karnataka. It aims to examine the accessibility of primary schooling by analyzing enrolment and attendance rates, and to assess the quality of education by evaluating literacy rates. The study area specifically encompasses the Karnataka region. This research primarily relies on secondary data obtained from various sources including UDISE+ Data, Ministry of Education records, Karnataka Economic Survey, and NFHS data. Statistical tools such as percentages, coefficient of variation (CV), growth rates, as well as bar diagrams and charts are utilized where necessary in the analysis.