About 2,400 students between the age group of 6-18 years have left their studies during the closure of their institutions in last two years in Baleswar district due to Covid.
Reports said although the district Education Department officials are trying to locate them and bring them back to their institutions, yet only one fourth of them could be brought back and the rest are not traced.
Among the dropouts, maximum students are between the age of 16-18 years. The Parents’ Association has brought the fact to the notice of the State Human Rights Commission while the latter has directed the School and Mass Education, Labour and SC, ST Development departments to step up efforts to bring the students back to the schools.
Following the direction, the district administration has assigned the District Education Officer and Block Education Officers to locate the students and ensure their readmissions.
Reports informed that during the Covid period while 2,389 students have deserted their studies, 691 students could be brought back . The whereabouts of 1,698 students are yet to be known. It is feared that those untraced students might have gone to other places to support their family livelihood.
In Jaleswar block, the highest 477 students have deserted their studies followed by Simulia block with 345 students. In Soro block the number is 290.
Between 16-18 age group while 1,795 students have left their schools, only 97 could be admitted back in their institutions. The district administration has stressed to take up the task in a mission mode and restore education of more dropouts, added reports.