Campaign targets to enrol 59k out-of-school children

Ranchi: The school education and literacy department of the state is actively implementing its ‘Back to School' campaign (Ruar-2025) in a focused effort to bring every child into the formal education system. The initiative, which began on April 25, in govt schools will conclude on May 10 with an aim to enrol all 59,094 children identified as out-of-school students in the recent Shishu Panji survey.

According to the survey data, Deoghar district records the highest number of out-of-school students at 7,993, while Dumka follows closely with 7,247 children at both primary and secondary levels. Other districts like Pakur, with 4,873 primary and 1,770 secondary out-of-school children, and Giridih, with 2,595 primary and 250 secondary out-of-school students, also witnessed large figures.

Out of the total 59,094 children, 43,250 belong to Classes I to VIII, while 15,844 are in secondary classes. The data includes both dropouts and those who never enrolled in school. The number of dropout students is 24,649, and 18,601 children are never enrolled in schools. Deoghar district has the highest number of dropouts, while Jamtara reports the lowest with just 12 children.

As part of the campaign, schools have been instructed to identify and contact students who are not attending classes regularly, in addition to enrolling those previously unregistered. A coordinated strategy has been laid out, where headmasters of primary schools will liaise with anganwadi centres, middle schools will connect with primary schools, and high schools with middle schools to track and enrol children in their respective areas.

To make the campaign more engaging, a "No Bag Day" will be observed, featuring interactive activities such as kitchen gardening. On the final day, schools will host a welcome ceremony for newly enrolled children. Parents and school management committee members will also be invited while local panchayat representatives will also be roped in to support the enrolment efforts at the grassroots level.

The director of the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC), Shashi Ranjan, said, "The education department has urged the school authorities to treat the campaign with priority, ensuring that no child is left out of school due to lack of information, outreach or systemic coordination."