Kishtwar, February 01: The district of Kishtwar, once burdened with a significant number of Out-of-School Children (OoSC), now stands as a testament to the success of the “Back to School” initiative. The first phase of this transformative project has not only elevated the literacy rate among the Scheduled Tribe community but has also enrolled 1500 Gujjar-Bakarwal students in government schools.
The Back-to-School initiative was launched after a survey in 2021 identified 2469 Out-of-School Children in district Kishtwar, the highest in the Jammu Division. The socio-economic conditions of the Gujjar and Bakarwal population, coupled with their migratory nature, made them more susceptible to low enrollment.
To address this, a meticulous process unfolded. The initiative commenced with a 3-month Bridge Course in January 2023, preparing 1376 students aged 6-14 for rejoining mainstream education. The enrollment drive was backed by community mobilization, involving senior officers in Gram Sabhas, and fostering community support through Tribal Samaj Sudhar Committee.
Sustainability was ensured through the restructuring of School Management Committees, with parents actively participating as chairmen. The “My School My Pride” campaign, a bottom-up initiative, saw parents contributing to school improvements, from Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) paintings to minor repairs and kitchen gardens.
CEO Prahlad Bhagat and the School Education Department played a proactive role, offering commendable incentives for Out-of-School students, including seasonal centers, stipends, and zonal level libraries.
The results are promising. The Gross Enrollment Ratio soared from 89% to 97.49%, and the dropout rate plummeted from 11% to 2.5%. The total number of Out-of-School Students in the district decreased from 1600 to a mere 57, marking an impressive transition rate of 98%. Seasonal units increased from 79 to 121, and 80 new winter ST centers were established.
As a continuation of this success, Back to School 2.0 aims to enroll an additional 200 Out-of-School Children in January 2024, achieving 100 percent saturation.
The Back-to-School initiative in Kishtwar is a beacon of success, showcasing the transformative impact of collective efforts. The engagement of the district administration, education department, scheduled tribe community, and parents has not only reintegrated these children into the mainstream of education but has also laid a foundation for replication in other backward and remote areas.
Revolutionizing Education: 1500 Gujjar-Bakarwal Students Embrace Learning in Kishtwar through ‘Back 2 School’ 2.0
