CHENNAI: The city corporation has identified 7,302 children who are out of school and has launched a coordinated exercise to facilitate their re-enrolment by August 31, and ensure they continue their education. The officials said the initiative aims to ensure that no child is left behind in the education system.
A senior corporation official engaged in the exercise told TNIE that often family disputes, illness affecting children or parents, the need to care for siblings, lack of parental support, single-parent families, migration, seasonal migration, financial difficulties and poverty are among the major reasons for children dropping out.
“If a child has dropped out because of financial difficulties, such as when parents are ill and the child has had to work, we will identify the family and explore ways to provide financial support,” the official added.
Families may be linked with self help group revolving funds under the TN Women Development department or may facilitate employment opportunities for parents through nearby private companies.
A coordination meeting on the identification and re-enrolment of out-of-school children was inaugurated by GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran at Ripon Buildings on Thursday. The 96 community organisers were trained during the meeting to undertake field-level follow-up, interact with families, provide counselling, coordinate with schools and monitor children’s attendance after re-enrolment.
Sameeran told TNIE, “Now we are concentrating on already dropped out children. A larger survey is required for identifying high-risk children, which will be done after this exercise is over.”
Earlier this year, a survey was conducted by school education department through door-to-door visits by Block Resource Teacher Educators (BRTEs), teachers and special educators in vulnerable and sensitive areas across 10 blocks of Chennai district.
The areas covered include Thiruvanmiyur Kuppam in Adyar, Ezhil Nagar and Kannagi Nagar in Alandur, Varadharajapuram and Lakshmipuram in Ambattur, TP Chathiram and Bricklin Road in Anna Nagar, Kasimedu in Royapuram, MGR Nagar Housing Board in Kodambakkam, Rama Street in Teynampet, AIR Nagar and Tsunami Quarters in Thiruvottiyur, Pulianthope and Otteri in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, and Vyasarpadi and Kalyanapuram in Tondiarpet.
Nearly 1,200 children were identified and admitted to schools and around 130 potential dropouts were also identified and regularised in the schools concerned , the officials said.
As a continuation of the survey, the data from EMIS of the school education department showed nearly 7,302 children were out of school. Now, the corporation has planned to conduct the door-to-door exercise in all 200 wards with the help of 96 community organisers and ensure all these students are enrolled back to school.