CHANDIGARH: In compliance to the order of the Supreme Court, the District Education Officer, Chandigarh, has issued a Memo No 16071-74 dated June 23 to the principals of government/government aided/unaided and recognized schools to provide information of drop-out students latest by June 25. The memo also stated to provide information regarding students whose mother, father or guardian died due to COVID. Such students should get income certificate from the district authority.
The official of the education department said that the Supreme Court ordered that district education officers should do the mapping of such students who have been absent for 30 consecutive working days and such students should be treated as drop-outs.
The order further states that a child of 6-14 of age should be considered out of school if the child has never been enrolled in an elementary school. If enrolled but has been absent from school for 30 days or more should be treated as drop-outs.
It is also stated in the order that if the child once enrolled for formal education system but does not complete eight years of compulsory elementary education shold also be treated as out of school child.
A child above 14 years of age and do not fall under RTE Act-2009 but have had drop out of school due to financial constraints during pandemic shall also be treated as out of school child.
The exercise would not only minimize the drop-out rate but also bring many such students back to schools, said the official.