“Back 2 School” 2.0, “My School My Pride” Launched to Ensure Saturation of OoSC with Community Participation and School Management Committees
In a remarkable turnaround for education in Kishtwar district, the successful implementation of the “Back 2 School” initiative has seen 1500 Gujjar-Bakarwal out-of-school children (OoSC) reenrolled in government schools. Launched as part of the “Back 2 School” 2.0 and “My School My Pride” campaigns, this endeavor signifies a concerted effort to ensure the saturation of education among marginalized communities with active community participation and involvement of School Management Committees.
Since the inception of the initiative, Kishtwar district had been facing a significant challenge with a large number of Out-of-School Children (OoSC), particularly among the Gujjar-Bakarwal community. A survey conducted in 2021 identified over 2,400 OoSC in the district, necessitating urgent intervention.
The “Back 2 School” initiative was launched to address this pressing issue, focusing on mobilizing community support and restructuring School Management Committees. Through concerted efforts involving senior officers and community leaders, including Deputy Commissioner, ADDC, ADC, SDMs, and Tehsildars, parents were encouraged to reenroll their children in schools. A crucial aspect of the initiative was the implementation of a 3-month Bridge Course in collaboration with DIET Kishtwar, preparing OoSC for school reentry. Subsequently, admissions were facilitated for 1376 students in various government schools, with 95 percent belonging to the ST Gujjar and Bakarwal population.
To ensure sustainability, community support was galvanized through the formation of a Tribal Samaj Sudhar Committee, comprising volunteers from the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities. These committees actively monitored enrolled students and encouraged ongoing participation in education.
Additionally, School Management Committees were restructured with the involvement of parents as chairpersons, fostering a sense of ownership and partnership with the Education Department. The “My School My Pride” campaign, driven by these committees, witnessed active participation from parents, who contributed towards infrastructure enhancement and school improvements.
Under the leadership of CEO Prahlad Bhagat, the School Education Department introduced commendable incentives for OoSC, including additional seasonal centers, stipends, and zonal level libraries in schools. The impact of these initiatives has been profound, with significant improvements in education indicators in Kishtwar district. The Gross Enrollment Ratio has surged to 97.49%, while the dropout rate has plummeted to 2.5 percent. The total number of OoSC has been reduced to a mere 57, demonstrating a remarkable transition rate of 98%.
Looking ahead, the “Back 2 School” 2.0 initiative aims to enroll an additional 200 OoSC in January 2024, furthering the goal of achieving 100 percent saturation of education among marginalized communities. The success of the “Back 2 School” initiative serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, highlighting the transformative power of collective action and community engagement in ensuring access to education for all children, especially those from marginalized backgrounds.
