The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) completed its two-part orientation session of members of the 'School Management Committee' (SMC) Cell, an initiative, which aims to further decentralize management of government schools by enhancing community participation and parent involvement so that greater accountability and efficacy can be ensured.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Directorate of Education, Municipal Corporations and NGOs, Saajha and Samarthya of Delhi to discuss roles and responsibilities.
"The members shall track and reach out to at least 250 students in each district from November, who are enrolled in schools but are not traceable. They shall also assist in enrolling a minimum of 100 children in schools. Through several activities, challenges on the field were highlighted and the potential impact of work of SMC Cell was discussed," he said.
In August, 2020, DCPCR constituted the SMC Cell under Education and Children With Special Needs (CWSN) Division of the Commission. The Cell, chaired by Member (Education and CWSN) consists of five representatives from SMCs of every district, threr from SMCs of every zone of municipal corporations and another two from non-profit organisations working on parental engagement, a statement from the government read.
Primarily, members of SMC Cell shall conduct field visits, ensuring that children with attendance less than 33 per cent are reached out and track children who have been absent for 30 consecutive days or more without intimation, it said.
Highlighting the essential work and significant contribution that SMC Cell can potentially make, Anurag Kundu, Chairperson, DCPCR stressed upon the dire need of identifying nearly two lakh children who have remained untraceable by the schools since the lockdown due to pandemic.