Karnataka to launch special drive to return children to school
The statewide campaign running from November 14 to 30 targets students aged 6 to 18 who have discontinued their education.
The school education department in Karnataka will conduct a statewide campaign from November 14 to 30 to bring out-of-school children back to classrooms, according to The Times of India.
The initiative targets students aged 6 to 18 in classes 1 to II PU. Under the new rules, any student absent for over seven straight days without a valid reason or permission will be classified as an out-of-school child.
Samgra Shikshana Karnataka (SSK) stated in a circular that the November campaign is necessary because many children migrate between districts or states midway through the academic year.
Schools have been instructed to identify students who stop attending, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds or migrant families. Officials and teachers are expected to visit construction sites, brick kilns, hotels, and agricultural fields to find working children and speak with their parents and employers.
On November 14, schools must hold meetings with parents and school development and monitoring committees (SDMCs) to launch the exercise. Schools are also required to perform door-to-door visits and work with gram panchayats and local organisations to locate children outside the education system.
Headmasters are permitted to use up to Rs 1,500 from school funds or grants for documentation and publicity. For students aged 15 to 18, registration for exams must be done through the Karnataka Open Schooling system.