In Anand district of Gujarat, a new push called “Ek Kadam School Ki Ore”—which translates to “One Step Towards School”—has helped hundreds of children get back into classrooms. The campaign is run by the district’s development office, with strong backing from the state education department.
Why the drive?
In the 2024‑25 academic year, around 750 students from grades 1 to 8 left government schools across Anand. Authorities saw the urgency of turning these numbers around and launched a focused “drop‑out reversal” effort.
How it works
Devahuti, the District Development Officer (DDO) of Anand, explains that the team first identifies children who have left school and then meets with their families. “We discovered that a mix of social, economic, and personal challenges keeps kids away,” she says. By offering counseling and community meetings, the DDO’s office motivates both students and parents to re‑enroll.
The Education Department plays a key role. District Primary Education Officer Archana Prajapati reports that the department schedules frequent counseling sessions. “We talk to families to understand what stops them from sending kids to school,” she explains. “The goal is to make re‑joining as easy and welcoming as possible.”
Results so far
The coordinated effort has already brought 252 students back into classrooms. One returnee, Mansi Solanki, shares her joy: “I feel happy to be back, meeting friends again, and I’m excited to finish my studies.”
What this means for the wider region
Anand’s success offers a replicable model for other districts in Gujarat. Persistent administrative action, targeted outreach, and counseling can effectively fight the dropout problem—a challenge that plagues many government schools across the state.
By putting families back on track and keeping classrooms full, the Ek Kadam School Ki Ore initiative demonstrates how focused community engagement supports students’ education. Through continued support and follow‑up, Anand hopes to keep its young learners on the path to a brighter future.
Source: ianslive
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