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Bihar to introduce tracking system to curb high school dropout rates in state

Express News Service

PATNA: In a first of its kind move aimed to check the drop-out rate among children in Bihar, the state education department is set to introduce a tracking system.

At present, the drop-out rate between children from primary to secondary levels is approximately 32 per cent, almost 34 per cent of whom are girls.

Expressing concern, the state education department is preparing a system to ascertain when and how many children drop out of school.

Principal secretary of the education department Sanjay Kumar, said that the system once developed and introduced, will not only aid in tracking the dropout rate of children in schools but also of those pursuing technical or professional education.

The system will be introduced for around 3 crore students enrolled in more than 78,000 government schools from classes 1 to 12.

"It will take six months to put it (the system) in place,” Kumar said.

Adding, that once enrolled, the children's performances can be tracked by the government till they graduate.

Quoting a government statistic from 2018, Kumar shared that out of over 24 lakh children enrolled in class 1, only around 4 lakh of them completed their school level education.

Kumar also revealed that as per the education department's research, children are more likely to drop out between classes 5 and 8.

An official said that students also drop out based on conveyance issues and unavailability of preferred courses.

With the introduction of a new system, parents will be notified of various schools, institutes in their vicinity so as to curb the alarming dropout rates among children.

“This system, once in order, will continue updating the education department about the drop-out rate and enable us to devise a suitable strategy to combat it,” the official added.

Bihar government to give Rs25,000 to girls who pass Class 12, Rs50,000 for graduates

Patna: The Bihar government has announced hefty cash sums to girls in order to boost education among females in the community. While those who pass Class 12 will be given Rs25,000, girls who graduate will be given Rs50,000.

Informed sources said a proposal to this effect has been prepared by the education department and sent to the state cabinet for its clearance.

Authorities said the money would be credited directly to the bank account of the beneficiaries. However, only those girls will be eligible for grants who have passed out from a government’s recognised colleges. As per the conditions set by the government, only unmarried class 12 girls will be given the grant while there is no such barrier for graduate girls.

According to an official report, more than 160,000 girls have already applied for this benefit through the education department’s website. So far, the government has been paying Rs10,000 to the class 10 passed girls and Rs25,000 to graduate girls but now this amount is being double to encourage more girls pursue higher studies. The government is likely to spend Rs10 billion on the payment of such girl students.

Fertility rate

The government believes the attractive hike will significantly help in bringing down the fertility rate in the state. The fertility are of Bihar currently is 3.2. According to the government, various schemes like free cycle sand free uniforms have resulted in sharp rise in enrolment of the girls in schools and colleges which, the officials claim, is slowly bringing positive changes at various level.

“If all girls are educated at least up to class 12 level, it will not only reduce Bihar’s fertility rate but also boost their morale and make them self dependent,” Bihar chief minister NItish Kumar had told a function last year.

“Among the matriculate (class 10 massed) women, the average national fertility rate is 2 while the corresponding result for Bihar in the same category is also 2. The results are even more encouraging in the category of women educated up to Class 12. While the national average fertility rate is 1.7 in this category, it is even better in Bihar pegged at 1.6,” the chief minister had explained.

The realisation has prompted the Bihar government to launch efforts to open higher secondary schools in all the village councils across the state so as to bring the schools to the doorstep of the rural population.

The state government has already opened secondary schools in 5,082 village councils out of total 8,406 in Bihar while in the remaining village councils, a huge number of schools are being upgraded to help girls study to higher level.

After school students test positive, Bihar plans random testing in schools

Alarmed by the detection of Covid-19 infection in 25 students of a Munger school during a test camp and headmaster of a Gaya school testing positive , the education department of the Bihar government has now decided to go in for random testing of students and teachers/staff of schools across the state.

At Lal Bahadur Shastri Kisan High School in Asarganj block of Munger district, 15 students, besides teachers and a peon, on Thursday were found to have tested positive. All the students are of class 9. As soon as the matter came to light, the civil surgeon asked for contact tracing, while the district administration ordered closure of schools.

Binodanand Jha, director, research and training, department of education, said the department has been working closely with the health department in this regard. “We have also requested the health department for random testing of students and teachers in the schools. Wherever any case is detected, the schools have to be closed immediately. We want the schools to run, but there will be no leniency in following the Covid protocol,” he added.

Jha said that so far, just one school has reported Covid-19 positive cases among students. In Kilkari, an initiative for children’s creative development, one child was detected Covid-19 positive and the institution was closed. It was opened only after thorough screening and sanitization. The same has to be followed in the schools,” he added.

Amit Kumar deputy director in the department, said at present, just one secondary school has reported out of over 8000 which have opened. “But the government has taken a serious note of it. As far as the affected Munger school is concerned, all necessary steps as per Covid protocol; are being taken and the school has been closed,” he added.

The schools and colleges in Bihar, which remained closed since March 2020 due to pandemic, opened from January 4 by the government order. From Friday, practical examinations of the Bihar school examination board have also got underway and lakhs of students would take the exams in the coming weeks across the state.

The Upgraded high school, Khijarsarai, under Sariya block of Gaya district also had to be closed soon after opening after the headmaster of the school was found Covid-19 positive. The headmaster, admitted to a Patna hospital, himself informed the district education officer (DEO) about his condition and feared spread of infection to other teachers also. He urged the DEO for closure of school to prevent further spread. In Patna also, some staff of the district programme officer (DPO) were also found positive.

What is significant is that both the instances of Covid-19 spread have been reported from rural areas, where the spread of infection is presumed to be less. After secondary classes, the government also has to take a call on opening other schools from January 18, which would be a bigger challenge.

In the secondary schools, the government has also started surprise inspection of academic activities from Thursday across the state. During the inspection, the officials will ensure that the Covid-19 guidelines, which include only 50% attendance of students on alternate days, social distancing, use of masks and handwash, besides all other precautions and required facilities, are strictly followed.

After secondary classes, the government also has to take a call on opening other schools from January 18. The board practical exams have also got underway, which would require greater vigil.

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Bihar To Introduce Tracking System To Curb High School Dropout Rates In State