South body plans to attract kids to schools
In a bid to get more children back into the classroom, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation is partnering with NGOs to organise enrolment drive for civic body schools.
The drive, which according to corporation sources, is set to kick off in July, will have on its radar not only children who have never been to schools but also ones who had earlier enrolled but dropped out.
According to chairman of the corporation’s education committee Satish Upadhyay, this campaign in South civic body will increase the number of children from low-income families.
"Youngsters and college students will be involved in this campaign. Centre for Civil Society, the NGO with which we are partnering in this project, will identify wards and areas with high chances of ‘out-of-school’ children. We will spread awareness through street theatres / nukkad nataks, pamphlet distribution and spreading the message through loudspeakers and rickshaw models," Upadhyay said, adding that the corporators will also play an active role by spreading the message in their respective wards for this over 30-day campaign.
"There will also be a helpline number where people can call and get their admission-related queries answered. No child should be left without education in our jurisdiction, that is my aim," he said.
Abhishek Bhattacharya of Centre for Civil Society feels to have every child in school and learning well, the focus needs to be on increasing retention.
"Assessing the effectiveness of school management committees and regular trainings and meetings are required. The corporators need to be trained on Right to Education Act and admission norms and we will put a banner outside every councillor’s office. Teachers of the corporation schools will be involved in door-to-door campaigns," Bhattacharya said, adding that 20-odd locations like Hauz Rani, Shahpur Jat, Gautam Nagar and Sangam Vihar the JJ Clusters will be the focus of this campaign.
Read the story in Hindustan Times