In a unique initiative under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, as many as 107 migrant children, including those living on the streets, were rehabilitated and enrolled in schools across Ernakulam this academic year.
With the addition of new entrants, the number of migrant students enrolled in schools in the district has reached 2,648. “We managed to admit up to 107 children in the age group of six to 14 to schools in the face of a false propaganda that migrants are not safe in the State,” said Sajoy George, District Project Officer, SSA, Ernakulam.
Earlier, a household survey was conducted to increase the enrolment of migrant children in schools in the new academic year. The objectives of the survey included identifying dropouts, street children, and unenrolled children.
The survey, covering all the 111 educational clusters in the district, found that most street children belonged to broken families. They were found along with their migrant parents who lived in tents set up at public places.
According to the survey, the children were physically and mentally tortured by their parents and other family members, ultimately forcing them to leave their homes.
Training centres opened
Meanwhile, 18 special training centres were opened this year to offer training to migrant children in their own native languages and to bring them into the mainstream. These special centres, with volunteers, are attached to schools.
They are also provided with classrooms, toilets, and drinking water.
The Ernakulam wing of the SSA was ably helped by the police, Labour and Social Welfare departments, plywood company owners, and members of local-self governments in identifying out-of-school children. Members of Kudumbasree and Anganwadi teachers were also alerted to give information on children of migrants.