Even after implementing several programmes to make children come to school, 82,713 children dropped out of school this year, says data released by the department of public instructions (DPI). In a circular issued to school headmasters and teachers, the DPI has ordered to conduct a survey and ensure dropouts return to school next academic year (2019-20).

"The department is keeping records of each student through the Students Achievement Tracking System (SATS), from the previous academic year. It has been found that 82,713 students dropped out of school this year. For this, elaborate and effective survey needs to be done using SATS. On the occasion of Children’s Day on November 14, heads of schools will organise ‘Grama Sabha’ and identify dropouts or children whose data is not updated on SATS,” said a circular.

This programme will be jointly organised by the Education, Labour, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Urban Development, Women and Child Welfare and Health departments. A special team will be formed, comprising Panchayat, SDMC, Asha, Anganwadi workers and NSS volunteers, who will accompany the heads of the schools during the survey.

“The heads of schools, through SATS, should check the difference between the student strength as on April 10, 2018 (previous academic year) and September 30, 2018 (current academic year). They have to conduct a survey of these children and update the details on SATS,” the circular said. The details collected from the survey should be updated on SATS on December 18, 2018.