Hundreds of kids never go to school in capital of Odisha

Reported by Arjun Paikray
Bhubaneswar, Mar 30:

More than 500 kids aged 5-14 do not have any access to primary education even in the capital city of Odisha. They are left to guard their slum houses and take care of the younger ones while their parents go to work.

Poverty and lack of awareness deprive these kids from one of their fundamental rights, as discovered by School and Mass Education department of the state while conducting a special admission drive in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) area.

The admission drive, which is in progress in all 376 slums of the city, has already enrolled more than 800 students by yesterday and the  umber is expected to cross 1000 by the end of the drive. While the mission started on March 24, it ended today. The admission of the students will take place on April 1 at nearby government primary schools.

This drive includes students who are of the right age (5) to join school, kids that have crossed age, but have not yet been to any school and kids who have dropped out.

As per information provided by CRCC, the number of kids who are more than 5 years old, yet have never been to school would exceed 500.

“The kids don’t go to school as household responsibility comes in their way. The School and Mass Education department is trying its best to take these students to school. We are trying all that we can to enrol maximum number of students. The block education officer and district project coordinator are supervising the efforts,” said the URCC.