Mangaluru: This academic year began with yet another harsh summer, resulting in a dip in attendance across the coastal district. Colleges, particularly govt ones offering traditional, technical, and professional courses, are witnessing a dip of about 10% to 15% daily in attendance since the start of April.
Those who choose to skip classes have found part-time jobs, such as catering in urban areas or agricultural work in rural regions. Students explain that this is the season when they can earn some pocket money, which helps in continuing their studies.
"The attendance dropped about 10% this summer, with the majority of boys being absent from classes. This is purely due to the summer heat, and those who stay away from classes engage themselves in part-time jobs like catering, which has peak season now," said Jayakar Bhandary, the Principal of Dr P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, Mangaluru.
Another govt principal from Puttur shared that in rural areas, students who are unable to sit in class due to extreme heat don't attend classes but rather engage in part-time jobs such as peeling areca nuts, working in small industries, and some in catering work.
The absence of students is longer, with some attending college once a week and spending the rest of the days engaged in part-time jobs, shares another senior professor of a govt college situated in Kaup.
Colleges also added that compared to previous years, the water woes are less this season. "This has helped in maintaining healthy attendance, especially among female students," said another college principal. Some colleges added that summer has not negatively affected attendance this year.
Caterers, where the majority of the students engage in work, shared that they require a lot of human resources during this season, and college-goers are hired for the work. "They are paid Rs 700 to Rs 800 per function. At times, some take up two functions (noon and evening) in a day, earning a substantial amount that supports their studies as well as their family," said Ashwatham Hegde AA, proprietor of Tulunadu Food Catering Services. In rural areas, Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg is paid for those peeling areca nuts.