Karnataka’s Student-Teacher ratio better than most states in India

Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Choudhary, recently made a startling revelation about Karnataka’s student-teacher ratio (PTR), which has left the nation in awe. Despite grappling with significant vacancies, Karnataka boasts one of the best PTRs among larger states in India.

Choudhary shared the statistics in response to a question in Parliament, highlighting that Karnataka’s PTR stands at 7:1 for Anganwadis and Classes 1-2 (Foundational), 12:1 for Classes 3-5 (Preparatory), 16:1 for Classes 6-8 (Middle), and 21:1 for Classes 9-12 (Secondary). These figures are notably better than the national averages of 9:1, 14:1, 21:1, and 20:1, respectively1.

Comparatively, Karnataka’s PTR is superior to many larger states, including Gujarat and West Bengal, and is only surpassed by southern states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. However, the state still faces challenges with 24,765 vacancies at the elementary level and 7,251 vacancies at the secondary level.

The revelation has sparked a mix of reactions, with some praising the state’s efforts to maintain a favorable PTR despite the vacancies, while others point out the need for urgent measures to fill the vacant positions and ensure quality education for all students.