District Kishtwar bags SKOCH Award for Back to School Initiative
1400 out of school children join Govt Schools to complete their Education; majority from ST background
Kishtwar,21-10-2023
In the heart of the mountainous Kishtwar district in Jammu Division of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a silent revolution has taken place. With a literacy rate caped around 58 percent, the district faces several significant challenges including a large number of Out of School Children (OoSC) especially from schedule tribe community.
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| District Kishtwar bags SKOCH Award for Back to School Initiative |
In 2021, a survey was conducted by SAMAGRA Shiksha Jammu and Kashmir under Deep Raj Director SAMAGRA and identified thousands of OoSC across J&K UT including 2,469 OoSC in district Kishtwar marking the highest number in the Jammu Division. This was a problem that demanded urgent and immediate attention by the authorities. The other districts of J&K UT are up to the identification stage but district administration Kishtwar went ahead and worked on mainstreaming process by brining back all the OoSC back to school.
For high rate of OoSC, various factors contributed to this situation, including issues related to road connectivity, lack of awareness, the backwardness among tribal communities, and the shadow of poverty.
To combat this crisis and pave the way for a brighter future, the District Administration Kishtwar embarked on an ambitious mission.
Under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Dr. Devansh Yadav IAS, in collaboration with DIET Kishtwar and the Education Department Kishtwar, the project 'Talaash' was initiated in 2022 under the aegis of the Directorate Samagra Siksha with a step ahead.
The path to success was not straightforward as it began with a well-thought-out strategy. Joint meetings, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, brought together key stakeholders including the CBOs from ST community. The OoSC were scattered across all of the seven educational zones of Kishtwar and in first stage they were identified and registered and the respective Zonal Education Officers (ZEO) were roped in for this monumental task.
The vision and goals of the 'Back to School' initiative was clear - emphasize the target of achieving 100 percent enrolment for out-of-school children. This was not just an administrative initiative but a collective mission at the highest order.
The Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, along with other senior officers of the district administration and School Education Department led an awareness campaign that involved various stakeholders. Special camps were organized to engage with the parents of OoSC in locations and schools throughout the district, with a particular focus on areas like Drabshalla, Chatroo, Nagseni, and Bounjwah where the OoSC rate was on the higher side particularly among ST community.
Parents from ST community were sensitized about the 'Back to School' initiative, and OoSC were motivated to return to the realm of education.
The initiative was not limited to administrative efforts; it involved deep engagement with the local community also.The Tribal Sudhar Committee were also engaged in the initiative.
Addressing issues of students of tribal communities and their poverty by ensuring Educational Scholarships and prioritised 100 day works under MGNREGA was pivotal to garner support and participation in this transformative mission.
Thereafter, the 1400 OoSC were enrolled in winter coaching centres exclusively opened for them and immediately 100 such centers in OoSC dominated areas in collaboration with the Education Department were made functional and immediately a Baseline test was conducted for these 1400 OoSC to gauge the educational requirements of theses enrolled students. The results were sobering - only 5 to 10 percent of the enrolled students passed with meagre marks.
After the baseline test District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) Kishtwar, under the direction of DC Kishtwar, devised a bridge course for the enrolled students keeping in view their need and standard based on SOPs of the SAMAGRA Shiksha. Director SAMAGRA Deep Raj helped by providing material and funds too for printing the Bridge Course for OoSC.
Govt teachers were trained by DIET for this purpose, who conducted intensive classes over three months in the established centres.
The endline test conducted after 4 months was a testament to the determination of both the students and the educators. An impressive 87 percent of the students successfully passed the examination.
The qualified out-of-school children were not left hanging in the balance. They were immediately admitted to the near by schools thus mainstreaming them and bringing back in educational system, their placement based on their performance in the endline test and based on age appropriate they were admitted in schools accordingly.
The success of this educational rehabilitation initiative was nothing short of astounding.The role of the CEO Kishtwar and his team was no less who provided the available resources for the grand success of this initiative relentlessly.
In recognition of this resounding success, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Dr Devansh Yadav was felicitated virtually by winning Semifinals of SKOCH award and after detailed presentation about the project Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar bagged the highest and prestigious SKOCH award 2023 which he will receive at New Delhi in ending November 2023 the second winner of such award in J&K.
Bringing laurels to the district Kishtwar,this was a testament to the unwavering commitment of the District Administration, the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, and the collaborative efforts of other key stakeholders, particularly DIET Kishtwar and the Chief Education Officer.
What was once a bleak scenario for out-of-school children, where hope for education had dwindled, has been dramatically transformed. Appreciation and the unwavering dedication of DC Kishtwar and a coalition of stakeholders, these children have been reintegrated into the mainstream of education.
Kishtwar district stands as a shining example of how collective determination and innovative strategies can break down barriers and rekindle the light of education in the most remote corners of the nation.