In a statewide survey conducted for the proper implementation of education schemes in 2011-12, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Authority, Punjab, traced as many as 30,939 children in the age-group of 6-14 years, who had either left the studies mid-way or were never enrolled in the schools.
However, the whole exercise, carried for at least two months (November and December in 2010), proved to be more or less futile as the staff assigned the task, failed to perform it in a proper way.
As the flaws in the survey report surfaced, contradicting the data collected, the SSA Authority, Punjab, was left with no other option but to conduct the survey again.
To cover the blunder, the SSA Authority has launched the operation again, terming it as a special survey to check the figures of the children in the age-group 6-14 years who were either drop-outs or had not enrolled for school.
However, directing the deputy commissioners and district education officers (secondary as well as elementary education) not to allow any inaccuracy in the details, the state project director, the SSA Authority, Punjab, B. Purushartha has set different levels of activities to fix the responsibility of officials for the irregularities if detected this time.
The project director has also made the sample checking of the data collected compulsory for the school heads and other officials. Besides, each official, after the completion of the task, would have to give a certificate that no child in his respective area was left unnoticed.
The special survey, which is primarily focused on correcting the previous figures, is to be completed this month. Finding the SSA Authority to be strict this time, the staff at all levels has geared up and the teachers assigned the duties as inspectors have started door-to-door visits to collect the data.
Besides visiting all the towns, villages and even the colonies located on the outskirts, they are also collecting information about migrant labourers working at brick kilns, railway stations and also at the under-construction buildings.
Filling up 29-point proforma, the inspectors are mentioning the details about the reasons for the children staying away from schools.
Confirming the details, senior officials in the state education department informed that the exercise was being performed in compliance of the Right to Education Act under which the state was bound to bring each child (6-14 years) to school and educate them up to class VIII.
