Good news, sharp fall in dropouts in Tiruvannamalai

The survey, which began on April 12 and will continue till May end, has so far identified 600 dropouts in the 6–14 years’ age group, according to CEO V Jayakumar. “The same exercise last year had identified 1,400 dropouts who, based on the duration they were away from studies, were accommodated in special training centres to ease their entry into mainline schools,” he added.

“What has buoyed survey staff is the good results of the district schools in Class 10 and 11 exams, which has encouraged them a lot,” he said.

“Once identified, the children, based on their scholastic skills, are accommodated in the Residential Special Training Centres (RSTC) in the Jawadhu hills and at Chinnakayampattu in Chengam taluk and are given special coaching, the duration of which depends on their skills,” said Collector KS Kandasamy.

Asked if there were any repeat drop outs from the 1400 identified last year and provided admission in nearby schools, Jayakumar said “this will be known only when the current survey ends.”

The district also creates non-residential training centres “where short-term coaching is provided to the dropouts by Education Volunteers (EVs) who then ensure that they are mainlined into the nearest government school. This works well as parents, who are initially reluctant to allow their children continue their education, accept when they know the school is nearby,” Jayakumar said.

“This improvement was revealed when the survey staff assured relatives of three dropouts in Thurinjapuram panchayat union limits that they would inform Kandasamy and Jayakumar about their request to admit them in residential schools as they had dropped out due to the separation of their parents,” Jayakumar added.