Rajasthan to try to get drop-outs back to school

Jaipur: Rajasthan will start a massive drive across the state from
July 1 to bring over a million school drop-outs back to the classroom,
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Thursday.

Those teachers who produce good results during the drive will be
awarded by the government, he said.

A child tracking survey (CTS) conducted by the state education
department recently put the number of school drop-outs at a staggering
1.2 million.

"This will be a month-long drive and will be part of our ambitious
plan to bring about 100 percent literacy in the state," said Gehlot.
He added that during the drive, the teachers at primary schools will
contact parents in every household and urge them to send their
children to school.

Letters will be sent from the chief minister, the education minister,
the chief secretary and other senior administrative officials to the
local public representatives urging them to take part in the
initiative.

"Each teacher will be given a target of bringing at least two children
to schools," said Gehlot.

According to the CTS survey, at least 30,996 children between the age
group 6-14 are not going to school in Jaipur alone.

Children rights activists have welcomed the initiative and said that
if the drive is run seriously, it may change the education scenario in
the state. IANS