It is a matter of grave concern that country’s thousands of primary level students may drop out of schools this year due to Covid-19 pandemic situation. Since March 16 last year about 77 lakh primary students remain out of their respective schools as the government closed all the educational institutions of the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
According to media sources, as many as 7603839 students got admitted to the country’s 65,566 government primary schools across the country from class one to five in 2020. But it is apprehended that the school enrolment will decline sharply this year.
The coronavirus pandemic has made a large number of people unemployed. Common people who lost their jobs because of the pandemic are now struggling to survive and engaging their children in work instead. And many parents cannot afford the costs of educational expenditure of their children. These students are now working in order to provide financial supports to their respective families.
The government in association with educational institutions
should conduct comprehensive door-to-door surveys to track
down the students who stopped academic activities
The government in association with educational institutions should conduct comprehensive door-to-door surveys to track down the students who stopped academic activities. Besides, it should also frame a plan to prevent increased drop-outs immediately.
Apart from the government, businessmen, affluent people, academics and elite personalities of society will also have to come forward and stand beside the insolvent students and help them get the credits needed to complete the education.
Over the past few years the government’s school meals programme has made a significant contribution in reducing the dropout rate of students. But Covid-19 has battered education sector throwing the children out of academic activities in the last 18 months. Therefore, the ministry concerned should work seriously to bring the students back to academic activities.