Dharmapuri’s Drive to Re-Enroll Dropout Students

Feb. 28, 2025, 9:58 a.m.

The Dharmapuri School Education Department and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) are actively working to bring 600 school dropouts back to education. According to SSA data for the 2024-25 academic year, 3,538 children were identified as Out of School Children (OoSC). Through focused efforts, over 2,607 students have already been re-enrolled. SSA officials explained that each year, after schools reopen, they track dropout students using the EMIS portal and launch a re-enrollment campaign.

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Their efforts include identifying challenges faced by these children and addressing them to ensure uninterrupted education. They conduct door-to-door surveys using Block Resource Teacher Educators (BRTE) and school headmasters, prioritising children with disabilities and those from migrant families. Chief Education Officer I Jyothichandra stated that out of the 2,607 students enrolled, 870 were readmitted to schools, 510 completed Class 12, and 866 were duplicate entries due to transfers without Transfer Certificates (TCs) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the remaining 361 students, many have joined diploma courses in fields like catering, tailoring, and vocational training or have enrolled in religious institutions. Additionally, 331 students were classified as non-target cases, 300 had migrated to other states or countries, while 31 were underage or had passed away. Of the 600 students still awaiting enrollment, 518 have moved to other districts and joined schools there. The final 82 of them, face challenges such as child marriage, major illnesses, or lack of guardianship. The department is coordinating with various agencies to support their education.