Lucknow, 19 Nov: The state basic education department will actively monitor regular attendance of girl students in government primary and upper primary schools in order to reduce school dropout rates among female pupils. On the last Saturday of each month, such females who are frequently missing would be recognised, and teachers would visit the home to learn the causes so that these girl students might be brought back to school.
“The goal is to reduce the number of female dropouts. Their enrollment is not an issue. However, the dropout rate of female students must be addressed. A list of such girls should be compiled, and their parents should be contacted, so that all of the girls may be encouraged to return to school on a daily basis. During parent-teacher meetings, such parents whose girls consistently attend school should be honoured,” wrote Vijay Kiran Anand, director general of school education, in a letter to all DM?s.
“It was determined that during Saturday life skills education sessions at upper primary schools, pupils will be instructed about child rights, safety, and security issues such as domestic abuse, violence against children, sexual assault, molestation, and good and bad touch. Information regarding helplines and other resources should be supplied to female students in particular,” the letter stated.
Paintings, debates, and conversations with children on the importance of female child education should be organised in monthly parent meetings, and an exhibition should be displayed to the parents by making a children’s newspaper. In addition, while emphasising the importance of female child education, girls should be made aware of and encouraged to provide more and more chances for home study.
The facilitator/teacher will now inform students about legal provisions such as the right to education, POCSO, child marriage, dowry practise, domestic abuse, and so on. There is also information regarding the child helpline number 1098, the women’s helpline number 1090, the helpline number 112 for calling the police in case of harassment, and the helpline number 181 for any type of police assistance.
Teachers in upper primary schools should have regular discussions with girls on menstrual hygiene management. Legal literacy, POCSO, and child marriage should be discussed during teacher-parent association meetings to raise awareness. According to the letter, every elementary school should have a children’s parliament, and every upper primary school and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya should have a “Meena Manch.”
