Bhat Imran
Srinagar, Feb 25: In order to ensure continuance of education of Out of School Children (OoSC), School Education Department Saturday asked District Education officers and District Child Protection Officers to furnish the Action Taken Report as to what reasons were responsible for children being out of school.
Divisional Nodal Officer at Directorate of School Education Kashmir said this in connection with the directions of Supreme Court given for ensuring the continuance of education of OoSC.
DSEK while stating the directions of Supreme Court said that the District Education Officers (DEOs) of the district should do the mapping of such children who have been absent from his or her school for 10 consecutive working days and that those children should be treated as dropout children.
“A child of 6-14 years of age should be considered out of school if he or she has never been enrolled in an elementary school or if after enrolment has been absent from school without prior intimation for a period of 30 days or more,” it reads.
It also states that a child who has never been enrolled in school as per RTE Act, 2009 for formal education should also fall under the category of out of school.
“A child once enrolled into the formal system of education or school if does not complete 8 years of compulsory elementary education, should be treated as an out of school child,” DSEK said.
Quoting the Supreme Court directions, DSEK also said that all the children above the age of 14 years, who do not fall under the purview of RTE Act, 2009 but have had to drop out of school due to financial constraints during the COVID pandemic shall be treated as out of school child.
“The District Education officers and District Child Protection Officers should identify various reasons responsible for children being out of school,” it reads.
It also states that the children who have lost both or single parent or parents or guardians who have lost their livelihood can get their income certificate made through the district authorities.
“The District Child Protection Officers shall provide assistance to such children in procuring the income certificate. Based on the income certificate and the child’s eligibility, the child shall constraints during the COVID pandemic shall be treated as an out of school child,” DSEK said.
It further reads that the District Education officers and District Child Protection Officers should identify various reasons responsible for children being out of school.
The officer in a communiqué to CEOs of Kashmir region said, “In view of the directions of the Supreme Court, you are requested to take the cognizance and furnish the Action Taken Report strictly in compliance to the Honorable Supreme Court Directions.
