Enumeration of classical schools hazy

MANGALORE: How many schools in the state conduct classes in Indian classical music and dance? Even the Education Department, encircled with vague statistics, is looking for answers.The department’s unpleasant predicament is set to end the launch of a state-wide survey of such schools dedicated to classical music and danceAccording to statistics, only 2,000 such schools exist in the state.What has been intriguing officials in the department is a mismatch in the number of schools and number of students.Annually, over 10,000 students appear before classical music and dance examinations.Most schools had grudgingly registered with the examination board two years ago, when the board’s music and dance wing had threatened to de-recognise schools and prevent its students from appearing before music and dance examinations conducted by the board.The board had gone a step further by registering teachers from such schoolsThis was done keeping in mind their needs while conducting music and dance examinations.The schools see the survey, launched in the first week of August, as the first step to streamline the music and dance exams.