1200 Children to Join Mainstream Education: Class to be Determined by Three-Month 'Bridge Course'
Connecting out-of-school and dropout children to the mainstream of education is an essential step. Key measures include identifying children through household surveys, running special education (bridge courses), and creating awareness among parents.
Under the sensitive leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai and as per the instructions of Forest and In-charge Minister Mr. Kedar Kashyap, the School Education Department has launched a special initiative to reintegrate approximately 1,200 dropout and out-of-school children from remote and Naxal-affected areas of Bijapur district back into the mainstream of education.
Under the guidance of Collector Bijapur Mr. Vishwadeep and Zila Panchayat CEO Mrs. Namrata Chaube, these children aged between 9 and 14 years have been identified and admitted to residential port cabins.
Initial Engagement, Main Attractions, and Action Plan
To help these children, who left studies due to domestic circumstances or local problems, adapt to the school environment, recreational activities such as sports, painting, dance, TV, and educational tours were organized first.
3-Month Bridge Course
A special 90-day bridge course is being conducted to assess the children's academic abilities and strengthen their basic language and mathematical (numeracy) skills.
Determination of Class According to Level
After the completion of the bridge course, an assessment examination will be conducted, based on which children will be regularly admitted to an appropriate class according to their ability. The District Education Officer stated that such a large number of children are rejoining education after many years. All possible efforts are being made to ensure the care and quality education of these children in line with the administration's intention.
The CEO of Zila Panchayat Bijapur, while holding a meeting with education department officials (DEO, DMC, BEO, BRC, and Cluster Coordinators), has instructed that the regular attendance of children be ensured. Special attention should be paid to the quality of teaching and meal arrangements so that the children can adapt easily.