KOCHI: The rate of school dropout in the fishermen community is very high, and regular awareness programmes are required to put and end to the trend, said Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) vice-chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup.
He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day awareness programme for children of fishermen at the KUFOS here on Tuesday. The programme is being organised by the Department of Fisheries as part of its ‘Edu-Fest’ project.
“Lack of proper education is one of the reasons for the backwardness of the community. Though Kerala is ahead of the other states in the development index, the fishing community in the State remains a marginalised section,” said the VC, adding that the children of fishermen should be given proper guidance and motivation to pursue higher education.
“The Edu-Fest project introduced by the Department of Fisheries is an ideal programme to limit school dropout and to motivate students to pursue higher studies,” he said.
M S Raju, K G Radhakrishnan, Jayadevan, K J Prasannakumar, K M Eliyas and Seena Agustine spoke on the occasion.