Govt to bring school nearer to girl child

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government is committed to ensuring availability of elementary schools for girls in their vicinity, saying empowerment of girl child remains one of his key focus areas.

He noted that non-availability of schools for girls in their locality is one of the reasons for high drop out rate. “Many girl students drop out after Class V because they have to go to some other village to continue their studies. Hence, we are working to see that schools are available for girls at the nearest location from their homes.

We are in consultation with states (to find a way out),” Modi said during his interaction with schoolchildren that was aired live on Doordarshan and various sites on the internet. Modi added that he wants toilets for girls constructed in all schools.
The prime minister further said skill development was another area of focus for his government. “We have created a separate ministry. It will soon yield results,” he said, adding a student needs vocational skill along with regular degree to get employed.

Addressing the children here at Manekshaw auditorium, Modi noted that the country was facing huge shortage of quality teachers and asked them to consider becoming teachers in future.

He used the opportunity to suggest that all educated people like engineers and doctors should volunteer for teaching students at schools in their close vicinity for at least one day.

He said that the value of teachers has eroded over the years. “We need to restore it,” he said, adding teachers are very important in any society and they make a big impact on a student’s life.

Responding to one of the questions from the students, Modi said he did not face any difficulty with his work after becoming the prime minister as he gained adequate experience while he was chief minister of Gujarat.