Even before the April 30 deadline ends, the Government has not only clocked the ambitious target set for fresh admission in schools but has scaled up a new height as well. latest tentative figures coming from all the districts suggest that against the goal set to admit 3.22 lakh out-of-school kids in the State the figure has reached somewhere near 5 lakh.
The commendable result is of till April 27 when three more days are still left for the deadline set when the ‘School chalein, chalayein’ mission had kick-started on April 10. “Figures are coming to the Department from different districts continuously. Over 3 lakh admissions had taken place by April 22-23 itself which was the target set at the start of the exercise. As per the latest report, 5 lakh plus enrolments have been done which is all set to go up when it officially closes down at the end of this month,” Human Resource Development Secretary Aradhana Patnaik informed The Pioneer on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das had flagged off the ‘School chalein, chalayein’ mission that was targeted to ensure cent per cent enrolment of children between 6-14 year age group in the State. The task had to be initiated looking at mammoth figure of 3,22,468 out of school kids that is 4.8 per cent of the total school goers in Jharkhand. The HRD Department chalked out full strategy with timelines, set targets for all the districts and ensured participation of all the stakeholders into it.
The Secretary said that the overwhelming number is inclusive of those children who have been transferred in upper primary or secondary level. “The five lakh figure has such children as well who got admission in upper level schools like class 5-6 from other primary schools. We are getting the details from the districts and final figure can be obtained after conclusion of the programme,” added she.
Special attention was given to districts with the highest number of children out of the school that include Giridih (33,247), Bokaro (29,107), West Singhbhum (25,093), Seraikela (23,294), Hazaribagh (24,125), Pakur (21,642). ‘School chalein, chalayein’ programme is especially targeted to the age group that has been devoid of the formal education system despite all efforts. Even children of 3-6 age group are to be brought to anganwadi centres ensuring their inclusion into the formal childcare system run by the Government. The Department this time is also stressing on regular attendance and stay of all the enrolled children in the schools throughout the session through ‘Prayas’ Programme in the second phase.
“All the stakeholders such as secretaries, officials, directors, NGOs and even villages who responded very positively to the door to door campaign run, school management committees, Bal Sansad have played their roles in making the mission a success. We would send across congratulatory and thanks giving messages to all,” said the Secretary. The Department has instructed the district administration to compile the figures and at the start of the next month and on May 5 it would officially release the exact number of enrolments made during the endeavour.