The first phase of the Back to School initiative has proven to be a game-changer for the literacy rate among the Scheduled Tribe community in Kishtwar district, which was once grappling with a significant number of Out-of-School Children (OoSC).
In 2021, a survey conducted by SAMAGRA Shiksha Jammu and Kashmir identified 2,469 Out-of-School Children in district Kishtwar, the highest number in the Jammu Division. Recognizing the urgency of the issue, the district administration took proactive measures to address the challenge.
“Out of School Children” refers to dropouts, those who left education midway, and those who have never been enrolled or experienced formal education.
In December 2022, a verification process revealed that around 1600 students aged 6-14 were not attending school, with the Gujjar and Bakarwal populations being more susceptible due to socio-economic conditions, migratory nature, and other factors.
The Back to School initiative commenced with the first step of convincing parents through Gram Sabhas presided over by senior officers. A 3-month Bridge Course, initiated in January 2023 with the help of DIET Kishtwar, prepared these students to join mainstream schools. Admissions for 1376 Out-of-School Students were subsequently completed, with 95 percent belonging to the ST Gujjar and Bakarwal population.
Ensuring sustainability, community support was mobilized through the formation of a Tribal Samaj Sudhar Committee and the restructuring of School Management Committees in collaboration with the India Education Collective NGO. Parents actively participated, taking on leadership roles in committees, becoming partners with the Education Department for School Improvement.
The initiative’s success was evident during the “My School My Pride” campaign on Republic Day 2024, where parents in 50 percent of schools contributed funds for Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) paintings, repairs, and kitchen gardens. Well-performing School Management Committees were recognized during the Republic Day Ceremony 2024.
The School Education Department, led by CEO Prahlad Bhagat, played a proactive role by offering incentives for Out-of-School students, including additional Dhok seasonal centers, winter ST centers, stipends, and zonal level libraries in schools.
As a result of the Back to School initiative, Kishtwar district witnessed substantial improvements. The Gross Enrollment Ratio increased from 89% to 97.49%, and the dropout rate decreased from 11% to 2.5 percent. The total number of Out-of-School Students plummeted from 1600 to only 57, showcasing an improved transition rate of 98%.
The number of seasonal units increased from 79 to 121 in 2023, with 80 new winter ST centers and a stipend of Rs 500 provided to each ST student.
In Back to School 2.0, an additional 200 OoSC have been identified for enrollment in schools in January 2024 for 100 percent saturation.
The Back to School initiative in Kishtwar is a success story, demonstrating the transformative power of active participation and collective efforts from the district administration, education department, scheduled tribe community, and parents of out-of-school children. What was once a bleak scenario for these children has been dramatically transformed, thanks to the unwavering dedication of DC Kishtwar and a coalition of stakeholders.