Feeling fatigued in ensuring cent per cent enrolment of children between 6-14 year age group, the State Government has taken into its hand a daunting task to admit 3,22,468 out-of-school kids that is 4.8 per cent of the total schoolgoers in Jharkhand. The Human Resource Development Department has chalked out full strategy with timelines and set targets to all the districts to achieve the goal. To bring the exercise in a mission mode, the Department on Friday launched 'School chalein, chalayein' programme that would be especially targeted to the age group who have been devoid of the formal education system despite all efforts.
"The drive would be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, all the out of schoolchildren in 6-14 age group falling in the serving ambit of a school would be enrolled and all children of 3-6 age group would be brought to anganwadi centres. This would run from April 17 to April 30. In the second phase, regular attendance of all the enrolled children would be ensured throughout the education session through 'Prayas Programme'," said HRD Secretary Aradhana Patnaik.
Districts with the highest number of children out of the school include Giridih (33,247), Bokaro (29,107), West Singhbhum (25,093), Seraikela (23,294), Hazaribagh (24,125), Pakur (21,642). Among the 3,22,468 children falling in the age group, 1,17,016 are between 6-10 years while 205452 are of 11-14. "We have started the enrolment drive from today in the presence of the Chief Minister, State-level officials, people representatives and other stakeholders. On April 12, the exercise would continue at district level and then at block and school levels. After continuing with n-number of promotional activities to attract children towards the schools finally on April 30, we would announce cent per cent enrolment with a oath taking ceremony to ensure attendance in schools regularly," said the Secretary.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Raghubar Das expressed worry over admission issue. "We have to find solution to the problem why such a large number of our upcoming generation is still out of schoolIJ We all have to play a part in making the mission a success. During the 20-day long drive, all of us would ensure our presence in the ground level and villages," said the CM.
Putting education as a priority of his Government, the CM said that every Minister would be given charge of two districts. Also, special attention would be given on education in the 2016-17 Budget for which preparation would start in September this year itself. "Promoting education and ensuring its quality in Government schools would be our priority. Children have not been in priority list perhaps because they are not voters. But now the things would change and Jharkhand can come at par with Kerala," added Das.
He also hit out at commercialisation of education and directed the DCs present to take an initiative to check the 'business' of private schools. Besides, the CM underlined the importance of upgrading quality of teaching in Government schools under which four model schools, especially located in forested areas, slums, tribal and Dalit-dominated areas, would be opened. "We have to focus on deprived section as poverty causes drop out. Everyone should get quality education," said the CM.
Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba said that education is the best enabler in making a society truly democratic which provides equal opportunity to everyone. He also expressed concern over lower quality of education in Government schools despite having good infrastructure and better salary to teachers than many of the private schools.