VIJAYAWADA: Aiming to enrol 100 per cent out-of-school children in schools for the academic year 2023-24, the School Education department has begun to implement a five-week action plan from May 8. As part of the plan, enrollment drives will be conducted from May 15 to May 19.
According to State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) officials, in the first week (from May 8 to 12) the school education department conducted meetings with Deputy Education Officers, Sectoral officers, MEOs and Additional Project Coordinator (APC) of Samagra Siksha and discussed on ways to realise the 100 per cent enrolment of the children. The census update of school-age children will also be done during this period.
As part of the enrolment drive, the parent-teacher meetings will be held with Parents Committee, sarpanch, ward members, ward councillors, corporators, the respective public representatives and education and welfare assistant on enrolment. The list of school-age children will be displayed in the meeting.
Banners will be arranged to give an insight into welfare schemes being implemented by the State government, including Manabadi Nadu-Nedu, Jagananna Vidya Kanuka, Mid-Day Meals, Amma Vodi and other education-related schemes, at main centres in villages and public rallies would be conducted to raise awareness among the parents and children.
Children over five years of age and children who completed education in Anganwadi will be identified and would be enrolled in the nearby schools. The Transfer Certificates (TC) will be issued to the students for their admission into higher classes in government or private schools.
The officials were directed to track the students who cleared SSC as part of the data consolidation of outgoing children. The dropouts list, which includes the data of children who never enrolled in schools, dropouts and child labours, will be prepared and a special enrolment drive to enrol such children into RSTC/NRSTC/regular schools in age-appropriate classes will be taken up.
“In order to ensure 100 per cent enrollment, five-year-old children are being identified and their parents are being contacted to make their children enrol in schools. The minimum age of six years for admission into the schools is not mandatory and there will be no change in the coming academic year,” said Commissioner of School Education S Suresh Kumar.