The Uttar Pradesh government has stepped up its efforts to ensure that no child is left out of school, as the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ continues across the state from 1st April. Under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the campaign is being carried out on a large scale with a clear goal: every child between the ages of 6 and 14 should be enrolled in school and attend classes regularly.
The Basic Education Department has now further intensified the campaign. From 1st May, special enrolment drives will be conducted in labour colonies, brick kilns, and slum areas, where many children remain outside the formal education system. The focus is on reaching those children who have either never been to school or have dropped out midway.
Focus on dropouts and marginalised children
Officials say the campaign is intended to integrate out-of-school children into the mainstream education process. Besides, special emphasis will be laid on identifying children with special needs, who will then be enrolled in appropriate schools.
At the same time, girls who have dropped out of school will be given priority admission in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), which are residential schools meant to support girls’ education, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds. This move is expected to strengthen girls’ participation in education and reduce dropout rates.
Strict monitoring and clear targets
Additional Chief Secretary for Basic and Secondary Education, Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma, has issued clear instructions to all divisional commissioners and district magistrates to ensure that every eligible child is enrolled.
In the first phase of the campaign, which ran from 1st April to 15th April, children aged three were enrolled in Anganwadi centres and Bal Vatikas, while six-year-olds were admitted to Class 1. At the same time, efforts began to identify children between 7 and 14 years who had dropped out of school.
Now, in the second phase, officials have been asked to speed up the process and directly reach out to children who were missed earlier. The government has also set a target to ensure 100% transition of students from Class 5 to 6, Class 8 to 9, and Class 10 to 11, so that students do not drop out at key stages of their education.
There is also a strong push to ensure that children selected under the Right to Education (RTE) Act through lottery get admission in private schools without any delay.
Strengthening school infrastructure
Alongside enrolment, the government is also focusing on improving school infrastructure. Work is being carried out under initiatives like Operation Kayakalp and Project Alankar to upgrade facilities in government schools.
Officials have been asked to identify any remaining gaps in infrastructure through special surveys and address them using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and other available resources. Schools are also being onboarded on the Vidyanjali portal, where gap analysis is being recorded to improve facilities further.
The UP government is encouraging the involvement of volunteers and social organisations to support these efforts, ensuring that schools are well-equipped and welcoming for students.
