Assessment of elementary education in Chamarajanagara District, Karnataka: a geospatial analysis

Primary education forms the foundational learning stage, providing young learners with essential skills and knowledge. The 2009 Right to Education Act ensures free and compulsory education for ages 6–14. It mandates neighborhood school access without fees, enabling completion of elementary education without financial barriers. The research aims to determine whether all the settlements in the Chamarajanagara district have school within a specified distance and whether children are provided with elementary education. Therefore, mapping of Chamarajanagara district primary schools is carried out, and their spatial distribution and accessibility to the residents are explored using a geographic information system as a tool for analysis. School spatial analysis involves conducting assessments for the Service Area Road Network, spanning 1 km from Primary Schools, 3 km from Upper Primary Schools (VI–VII std.), and 5 km from Upper Primary Schools (VIII std.). Using GIS exposed several issues associated with schools, emphasizing their geographic locations. It has been found that, out of the 884 settlements, 252 settlements are unserved for the schools, and children are expected to travel more than the maximum standard distance, indicating the current service provision is inadequate. The limitation is due to the combined effect of population distribution, spatial variables, socio-economic conditions, transportation problems, and the absence of regular monitoring and evaluation. The study would support the planning efforts to improve service provision and help the Government formulate effective policies for the context.