Piyush Bhusari, TNN | Jul 14, 2015, 06.13AM IST
KOLHAPUR: Ten days after a survey on identifying out-of-school children was carried out across the state, the district primary education department and the civic administration are still unclear about the admission status of such kids.
Officials of both the departments told TOI that the number of students admitted till Monday is being reviewed and the process is still underway. The state government's notification had clearly stated that once the students are identified as out-of-school, they should be admitted in a week and their schooling must start within the stipulated time.
During the July 4 survey, as many as 493 out-of-school children were identified in the district, while the number of such kids in the city was 56.
The officers have already said the higher authorities are yet to give clear instructions on the students identified at madrassas. Their admissions have been put on hold.
Smita Gaud, district primary education officer, told TOI, "The department is not sure of the students' admission status. We are preparing a report in this regard. We have asked the officers concerned at the taluka level to provide the admission status report, which is likely to be generated in at least two-three days."
When asked if the identified students are being admitted in schools, the officer again talked about the report which will throw light on the scenario.
The state government's circular on May 20 regarding out-of-school children stated that the identified kids should be be given Aadhaar cards within eight days.
When asked about the status of Aadhaar cards, the officer seemed reluctant and said, "At present, we are not sure about it. We will have to take a look at the report."
An official of the KMC's education department said on the condition of anonymity that the work is still 'on' and the data regarding the admission status of 56 kids is not available.
Anuradha Bhosale, vice-chairman of city-based NGO Avani told TOI that the entire survey was a farce as proper efforts were not taken. "There are hundreds of out-of-school children in the city, whereas the officials claim to have found only 56 kids. The administration hardly seems concerned with the admission status of these children," she said.
Uttam Gurav, headmaster of Nehru Nagar School said, "From Nehru Nagar, not a single child has been identified as out-of-school. Besides, the school has also not received any query on admissions in such cases."
The survey was in the centre of a controversy after the state government decided to consider students studying in madrassas out-of-school.
The administration had appointed 7,161 survey officers, along with 383 zonal officers and 22 control room officers across the district, for the event.
The school education department had collaborated with the departments such as public health, revenue, labour, women and child welfare, minority affairs, tribal development and social welfare as well as the municipal authorities to ensure that all the aspects were covered.
The squads were asked to look after marketplaces, slums, bus stops, railway stations and traffic signals among other places and start registering details of these children. Once registered, every child was marked on the finger with indelible ink.
|