MEERUT: More than a month past the deadline, re-enrolment data show less than half of UP’s students may make it back in class.
State government data show that in 63 of the state’s 75 districts, less than 50% of all school students have enrolled to come back. Of these, 28 districts have seen 25-50% registration, while 12 districts have got back 10-25% of their students. And in 23 districts, less than 10% students have enrolled.
The last date for enrolment was September 15. “During an inspection it was found that out of the total 75 districts, 63 districts have enrolled less than 50% of the total identified out of school students,” says the order issued by Vijay Kiran Anand, UP state project director. “The data is highly disappointing. It should be a priority to enrol out of school students in the age group of 7-14 years age and it is sad that despite identifying such students, the enrolment is so low.”
In April, right after the lockdown was announced, unemployment in UP had shot up from 10% to 21.5%, according to data from independent thinktank CMIE. It did go down gradually (it’s 4.2% now). At the same time, the state also received the highest number of migrant workers back home — about 32.5 lakh, according to data from the Chief Labour Commissioner. The economic crisis meant many children were pulled in to work on fields, do menial jobs and help their families, and pushed out of school.
But the state government means to correct that. The order said, “All districts are instructed to ensure that complete enrolment of the out-of-school students is done by November 10 or the concerned authorities will face action.”