IN BIHAR, 65 LAKH CHILDREN UP TO CLASS VIII ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL

IN BIHAR, 65 LAKH CHILDREN UP TO CLASS VIII ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL

13-AUG-ENG 8

RAJIV NAYAN AGRWAL

PATNA-----------------------In Bihar, migration of parents to other states for employment is a big reason for the absence of children in schools. After the head of the family leaves, the children do not get guidance. They are entangled in household chores and looking after siblings.

All efforts to send children to schools in Bihar are proving to be insufficient. In the state, 65 lakh children from class 1 to 8 are not going to study in schools despite enrollment. In the month of July, only 55 to 60 percent children were recorded to be present in government schools. More than one crore children are enrolled from class 1 to 5 in the state. Out of these, 40 lakh children are absent from classes. Out of a total of 57 lakh children from class 6 to 8, 25 lakh have been found absent from classes. In Muzaffarpur alone, out of seven lakh children from class 1 to 8, three lakh children are not coming to school.

The data has come out from the review of the number of children for mid-day meal. Mid-day meal is given only to those children who are present in the class. The number of children getting mid-day meal has also been under question. Cases of more children being recorded than the number present have been coming to the fore. The number of children not reaching school can be much more than the July figures.

In all the districts of the state, one to four lakh children from first to eighth standard did not reach school in July. The Mid-Day Meal Scheme Director has released a report of the number of children enrolled for the supply of food grains and the number of benefited children in July. According to the report, one to two and a half lakh children from first to fifth standard did not reach school in the districts. In East Champaran, six lakh children are enrolled in first to fifth standard. Out of these, 3 lakh 67 thousand 582 children did not come to school.

In West Champaran, out of 3 lakh 78 thousand children, only 2 lakh 49 thousand came to school. In Patna, out of 3 lakh 79 thousand children, only 2 lakh 16 thousand children came to study. In Madhubani, out of 5 lakh 48 thousand, only 2 lakh 99 thousand came to school, in Muzaffarpur, out of 4 lakh 40 thousand, only 2 lakh 42 thousand came to school. In Sitamarhi, out of 4 lakh 35 thousand children, only 2 lakh 13 thousand, in Vaishali, out of 2 lakh 78 thousand, only 1 lakh 47 thousand children studied in school in July.

CBSE counselor Dr. Pramod Kumar says that many policies have been made to make education entertaining, but they have not been implemented in schools. This is a big factor behind low attendance not only in government schools but also in CBSE schools.

Dr. Sharad Sinha, posted in NCERT Delhi and working on the National Curriculum Framework, has done research on migration of children in education. She says that in Bihar, migration of parents to other states for employment is a big reason for the absence of children in schools. After the head of the family leaves, the children do not get guidance. They are entangled in household chores and looking after their siblings.  Mid-day meal for children from class one to eight, Provision of money for clothes for all children, Scholarships are being given to children of every class, Free books along with a kit of copies, bags etc.