Adopting some unique strategies this year to curb dropout rate and to ensure maximum enrollment in the government schools, the Department of School Education and literacy has added some new features in the ‘Vidyalaya Chale Chalaein Abhiyaan’ campaign initiating from April 10 targeting the worst panchayats. Focusing on ‘Zero dropout panchayat model’ concept, the department officials and other stakeholders have been given the task to identify two worst performing panchayats in every block in terms of enrollment ratio.
“Primarily all officials have been instructed to identify worst performing two panchayats in every block. The survey has been complete and around 500 odd panchayats have been demarcated where the dropout rate is more than 10 to 20 per cent. Our prime focus will be ensuring enrollment of students residing in these blocks on priority basis,” said, Secretary, School Education and literacy Department, Aradhana Patnaik.
In an attempt to ensure 100 per cent enrollment, the department this year will enroll students in class 9 as well besides admitting the students in classes 1 to 8. Children whose age is four year or slightly above will also be admitted at the elementary stage.
Notably, overall average dropout rate in Jharkhand is 5.1 per cent. According to the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) officials, approximately, 3000 panchayats in State will be covered under ‘Zero dropout panchayats’ plan by March 2019. In an attempt to maintain retention rate after enrolling the students, the Department officials will adopt some unique methodologies.
“One white flag will be put up in that particular school which have 100 per cent enrollment. After one month period and after checking out the retention rate of a particular school that has been successful in withholding the record, the particular school campus will be decked up with blue flag denoting that the school is successful in achieving the Zero dropout target,” added Patnaik.
Similarly, JEPC Chairperson, Mukesh Kumar said that district level teams have been performed to ensure both enrollment and retention of kids admitted in government schools.
“From School Management Committee (SMC) members to clusters resource persons (CRPs), block resource persons (BRPs) including teachers all will be involved in this project. DSEs and DEOs have been sent the notices to focus on worst panchayats. list of around 120 panchayats have come that are performing well besides the worst performing panchayats. On April 26, all the newly admitted kids will be given textbooks so that they can get ready for classes without a delay,” Kumar said.
To provide state of the art facilities to the students studying at government schools at par with the private institutions, the Department has already given Rs 200 crore to the electricity Department for electrification work and Rs 150 crore is being used for upgrading the classrooms.
Making use of unique some components for attracting quite a number of children, the council is planning to establish 20,000 reading corners at government schools. JEPC has also demarcated 240 schools in all the 24 districts for setting up computer aided learning centers.