Centre, states to identify out-of-school children

The Centre has resolved to identify the number of children out of school in the country.

Union Minister for Human Resources Development Prakash Javadekar while addressing the 65th Cabinet Advisory Board of Education meeting said, that the Centre and State Governments have resolved to identify the number of children out of school in the country.

Javadekar said "The Centre and state governments have resolved to launch "Operation Digital Board" and also initiate a scheme to identify out of school children from September, 2018," he told reporters.

A sub-committee on out of school children will submit its final report on January 31.

However, the panel recommended the need to have a standardised definition of out of school children and that states should conduct joint surveys to identify such children.

Speaking on the occasion Javadekar also emphasised that education is a national agenda which empowers the individual, family, society and the nation.

District-wise findings of the National Achievement Survey (NAS) for classes III, V and VIII were tabled in the meeting.

A number of CABE sub-committee of reports were also submitted.

Among the draft recommendations, the committee suggested a residential, English medium, CBSE school for girls on lines of Navodaya Vidyalayas in each district; extension of mid-day meal support up to Class XII; free education up to PG level; residential degree colleges and polytechnics for women in district headquarters and an exclusive women university in each state.