School Education Department continues efforts to trace dropouts
The Hindu
4.99 lakh children identified as potential dropouts: Project Director, Samagra Siksha
Following a survey undertaken to identify dropouts from schools owing to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, the School Education Department is continuing its efforts to reach out to children who have dropped out or have not been able to return to schools since they reopened.
Through a virtual meeting, the department discussed and sought feedback from representatives and volunteers with civil society organisations and NGOs on the way forward and how they can reach out to more children and bring them back.
Schools in Tamil Nadu were shut for over 19 months owing to the pandemic and only in November, reopened for students of Classes I to VIII. Senior students got back to campuses in September. The prolonged closure of schools and economic as well as social impact of the pandemic had led to many children from underprivileged communities dropping out of school. Teachers, through the pandemic, had said that they found it hard to stay in touch with these children and ensure that some learning continued.