Children skip schools to earn money
From Our Correspondent
TURA: Authorities have apparently failed to check the high number of young children taking part in employment guarantee scheme works in the rural areas when they ought to have been attending school instead. This glaring case came to light during a recent review meeting of top district officials of South Garo Hills to try and streamline the education scenario of junior and middle level schools.
The review meeting on the status of education and literacy, which is by far the poorest in South Garo Hills, revealed that one of the main reasons for poor school and education board examination results was because of a high number of child labour being involved in the NREGA project works.
Many parents have reportedly encouraged their children to participate in the NREGA works since it brings in much needed extra cash to the family. The end result has been that many children are reluctant to attend schools due to their parents bidding and block authorities have totally failed to put a check on it.
In the recent MBOSE Class X and XII examinations students from South Garo Hills district fared poorly in comparison to their counterparts from West and East Garo Hills. The district authorities have now decided to strictly ensure school timing for primary and upper primary is maintained from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Also, after each half yearly examination a review meeting would be held to monitor the progress of schools and the students and certificates would be awarded for the outstanding candidates. The nokmas and the school teachers would be more involved in grooming children in and out of the school and strict discipline will be maintained during the time of examinations, it was decided.
The review meeting, which was attended by senior education department officials, also took up the progress report of civil works under SSA, report on enrollment of students both at the LP and UP schools, implementation of mid-day meal scheme in the district, maintaining of records in connection with the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, and the implementation of government guidelines on the banning of corporal punishment and ragging in schools and colleges.
Source: The Shillong Times
