Lipichem
Kiphire | May 20
School dropouts in Kiphire district is on the rise – in the year 2008, there were 2009 school dropouts while this year, the number of school dropouts has increased to 2313. This was informed by the Assistant District Coordinator (SSA) during the daylong programme on Kiphire district ASER dissemination discussion organised by the Hills Club. The ADC (SSA) pointed out that the lack of teachers in the institute is the main factor contributing to dropouts from school.
Introducing ASER to the participants, Mohit Anand, Research Associate at ASER Centre, New Delhi, said, “As a stakeholder and taxpayer, we should know how our children are learning. So people initiative is needed.” Giving a handout of the findings of ASER, he informed that the scientific analytic format was used, and in a district where 20 households out of 30 villagers are assessed to comprise ASER report. Remarking on the ‘midday meal’, he said, “Right for child to midday meal is denied comparing to other parts of the country.”
Participating in the discussion on the topics including school dropouts, midday meal, substitute teachers and role and responsibility of the VEC committee, some teachers mentioned that students were getting their midday meal only twice a year. Others commented that the ‘midday meal’ is being misused and does not reach the students.
Honang M Jessuho, Regional Coordinator for ASER Regional Centre, while giving an overview of ASER, encouraged the participants to be active in bringing change in the education sector. SDO(C) Kiphire, chairman of KTC, SSA team and other NGOs also participated in the discussion. The programme was chaired by the joint secretary of ENSF.
