Bihar: Campaign launched to minimise dropouts in schools

PATNA: The education department on Saturday launched a fortnight-long state-level "Praveshotsava" (enrolment festival) in a big way. The campaign is aimed at ensuring 100% enrolment of boys and girls passing Class VIII examination into Class IX of their respective schools.
The special drive to minimise the dropout of students in secondary schools was launched in the state capital at a function organised at Government Boys School, Rajendra Nagar. Education minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary inaugurated the festival by lighting a lamp and flagging off an 'enrolment rath (chariot)'. A girl student, Nisha Kumari, was enrolled in Class IX of the school on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said for various reasons 18% girls and 17% boys passing Class VIII examination from different schools in the state are not enrolled in Class IX. "All these dropouts should be identified and brought back to the schools for pursuing further education. They should be motivated in the best possible manner to get themselves enrolled in higher classes," he added.
Chaudhary appealed to all the stakeholders of education to ensure that not a single student around them is left unattended and stays away from the school. "This campaign has been launched to create awareness among the students as well as their guardians about the importance of education at the age of adolescence as this is the age when children learn the life skills from their surroundings and make good citizens," he added.
The minister said education department officials would accompany the education rath and there would also be some cultural artists who will attract students towards schools by motivating their guardians.
He appealed to the officials to organise the enrolment festival sincerely from July to 15 so that not a single student who has passed Class VIII examination this year is dropped.
Education department's additional chief secretary Dipak Kumar Singh, secretary Ashangba Chuba Ao, secondary education director Manoj Kumar, special secretary Satish Chnadra Jha and primary education director Ravi Prakash also addressed the meeting.