Workshop on Back to School Campaign in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur: In a determined effort to reintegrate drop-out children into the school system, a one-day workshop on Ruar 2024 (Back to School Campaign) was held under the leadership of District Magistrate cum Deputy Commissioner  Ananya Mittal at the Town Hall, Sidgora. The workshop saw participation from representatives of honorable MLAs, Deputy Development Commissioner  Manish Kumar, Regional Education Joint Director Mrs. Nirmala Bareilly, District Education Officer (DEO)  Manoj Kumar, District Superintendent of Education (DSE)  Ashish Pandey, school principals, and various officials and workers from the education department, along with Mukhiyas.

The Back to School Campaign, running intensively from July 15 to July 31, aims to reconnect children aged 5 to 18 years who have either dropped out or never enrolled in school. This initiative aligns with the provisions of the new education policy and the Right to Child Education Act, which mandates compulsory school education for this age group.

In his address,  Ananya Mittal emphasized the critical role of education in the personality development of children. He pointed out that while the campaign is well-known, the workshop’s purpose was to ensure its prompt and serious implementation. Highlighting the issues of irregular attendance and lack of engagement in schools, he urged for an interesting and welcoming school environment to encourage regular attendance. “Education plays an important role in the personality development of a child. They cannot be deprived of the right to education,”  Mittal stated, stressing the need for special initiatives to bring drop-out children back to school.

Mittal called for localized solutions to address the unique challenges each area faces. He recommended that education department officials collaborate with public representatives to understand why children stop attending school. He suggested forming committees comprising Mukhiyas, Ward Members, Principals, Teachers, and Parents to tackle these issues collectively. The workshop also discussed implementing state government schemes like scholarships, the Savitribai Phule Kishori Samridhi Yojana, bicycle distribution, and mid-day meals to motivate children to return to school.

Deputy Development Commissioner  Manish Kumar highlighted the district administration’s sensitivity towards providing a better educational environment, especially for children from weaker sections. He praised the transparent enrollment process under the Right to Education Act and reiterated the state government and district administration’s commitment to education, which is crucial for the overall development of the area.  Kumar encouraged all teachers and Panchayat representatives to foster a progressive and positive environment for children, ensuring no child remains absent from school.