Bengaluru: A random survey carried out by the Department of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) revealed that 30 per cent of the students in the State started working to support the families due to Covid-19 induced school closure.

The report shows that 108 students were interviewed from 32 academic districts of the State. The total number of respondent’s size was 3,672.

According to the survey findings, children were engaged in works like mechanics in garages, daily wage jobs, selling flowers and other items on the roadside and so on.

Gender stereotypes

The report also pointed out that most of the boy students were involved in learning skills like bike riding, climbing, trees, swimming, etc. However, a majority of the girl children were involved in learning skills like cooking, cleaning houses, cleaning vessels, etc. Participation of girls in bike riding, swimming, etc was very less compared to the boys.

Another major finding of the report is that a huge number of students used mobiles or tabs to play games instead of learning. 40 per cent of the students informed the surveyors that they were playing in their mobile phones.

This report is expected to force the government to start the schools at the earliest which are shut for long time in the name of Covid-19.