Odisha formulates new guideline to curb school student dropout

In an effort to curb student dropout, the School and Mass Education department has decided to implement a new set of guidelines with effect from tomorrow.
The new guideline got approval of the school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra after a meeting with the department officials and members of the UNICEF.
"If a child remains absent continuously for a period of 7 (Seven) days, the concerned class teacher of the school in which the student is studying will go to the parents' house, interact with them and counsel the child to attend the school,regularly," the minister said.
If after 10 (Ten) days, a child does not come to school, the headmaster of the concerned school will visit the parents' house and interact with the child and his/her guardians andcounsel to ensure that the child attends the school, he said.

If a child still does not come to school and remains absent for a period of 15 days, the school management committee members or local panchayat functionary will go to the parents and child and make sincere efforts to convince the child to attend school, the guideline said.
"If, a child does not come to the school continuously for a period of 30 (Thirty) days after all the efforts indicated above, the child will be identified as Out of School (Drop out), will be mentioned as such in the Admission Register and Attendance Register," the minister said.
All out effort to be made to bring the child to the fold of school. Contingency, available with school management committee upto Rs 5,000 can be used by the Headmaster at school level for the purpose. District Education Officer should monitor this agenda at least once in a month during the monthly review meeting, it said.

In the event, if a child comes to school after 30(Thirty) days of continuous absence, the child will be re-admitted and if required, remedial classes will be arranged for the child by the existing teachers of the school, the guideline said.