SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, May 3: With the month-long ‘School Ruaar 22’ (Back to School ’22) ending soon, only 25 percent of school children have been admitted back to schools in the state.
As per sources, out of the six lakh children registered in the Child Register, the officials in the state education department have been able to admit only 1.5 lakh back into schools.
While addressing this issue and reprimanding officials including District Education Officers and District Education Superintendents of the state, Education Secretary Rajesh Sharma warned officials with threats of suspension and stopping pensions after retirement.
However, as per Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) project director Kiran Pasi, officials at the Jharkhand School Education and Literacy department are still confident of fulfilling the aim of ‘Back to School’ by July.
While talking to lagatar24.com correspondent she said, “Even though the numbers are less, it isn’t that very few students are at present attending schools. The figures for admission are less because we have now extended the session to June instead of March. This was done to not only complete the syllabus but also to prepare all schools for students to attend. This preparation includes cleaning of classrooms, washrooms, water tanks, readying the infrastructure, etc.”
“As a result, students will now be taking admissions in July after which we will know for sure as to how many children have taken admissions back in schools. This is the reason why the figures are less because children are still finishing their previous terms,” she added.
“Furthermore, we are mostly focusing on the number of children that have taken admission in higher classes after passing primary and upper primary classes and find out if students are not getting dropout. For this, mapping of all primary schools with middle schools and middle schools with high schools has been asked. Others, including out of school children, have also been asked to mark them with the Dahar app and ensure enrollment,” Director Pasi further quoted.
The project director added, “Along with this, we are also focusing to ensure that the children get quality mid-day meals. It is to be checked from time to time so that the quality is up to mark. We are also working to improve the quality of Mid Day Meal (MDM). Initially, we would give eggs to students twice a week, however now a new plan has been passed, wherein students will receive eggs as part of MDM for five days a week. This will increase the interest of the children to attend the school.”
“Necessary instructions have already been given to all schools about various activities to be carried out as part of the campaign, including colour-painting, repair of classrooms, proper arrangement of toilets and drinking water, organising innovative extracurricular activities as part of No-Bag Day among others. Along with this, teachers and officials are contacting parents of students through community outreach to encourage them to send their children to school,” she further added.
Notably, the education and literacy department had launched a state-wide Back to School campaign ‘School Ruaar 22’ to bring students in the age group of 5 to 18 back into government schools and to maintain regular attendance. This program was to run from April 5 to May 4, 2022.
It was aimed at the retention and enrolment of school students and to bring those students back who had dropped out of school, children of migrant workers and special children who might have dropped out due to the closure of the school for nearly two years during the Covid pandemic.
