Bringing Every Child Back to School: Lessons from Uttar Pradesh
- May 6, 2026, 4 p.m.
Yogi Adityanath, the UP Chief Minister, declared that the state has greatly cut down the out-of-school student rate from 19% to just 3%, crediting successful education reforms for this accomplishment. He made this statement while introducing the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ in Varanasi. He awarded certificates to ‘Nipun’ schools and allotted textbooks for the new academic session to students as well.
Adityanath mentioned that the sharp fall reflects continuous attempts to bring children into the education model. He emphasised the government’s firm investment in education, noting that the state spends 80,000+ crore rupees annually to expand access and enhance infrastructure.
He added that the government has launched Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas in all blocks and continued approvals up to Grade 12 to guide girls from underprivileged backgrounds. This step assures that girls from underprivileged backgrounds can pursue their education without any disruption. The CM mentioned that the state is launching ‘Bal Vatika’ grades in every Anganwadi centre for children aged 3 to 6 years to strengthen basic skills before they enter Grade 1, concentrating on early learning.
Adityanath praised the District Magistrate, Chitrakoot, for registering his own child in a government school as a leadership example. He recommended that teachers do the same, arguing that registering their children in government schools will enhance education quality and accountability. He requested teachers to actively work to attain 100% enrolment by visiting villages and ensuring that every child returns to school by engaging with parents.
He stressed the need to move beyond rote learning and focus on conceptual understanding and skill-based education. According to him, teaching students to solve their problems through simple methods will make learning more meaningful and lasting. Adithyanath mentioned that many government schools experienced high dropout rates and poor infrastructure.
Still, initiatives like ‘NIPUN Bharat’ and ‘Operation Kayakalp’ have reshaped the education ecosystem by sparking students’ interest and enhancing the learning facilities, leading to maximum attendance. He added that NITI Aayog has recognised the state’s development, further supporting the effect of these education reforms.
