Dharwad Government Schools To Hold Parent Meetings To Tackle Absenteeism

Dharwad: The Dharwad district administration has taken serious note of persistent absenteeism and irregular attendance of some of the SSLC (10th standard) students.

The Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Divya Prabhu has instructed all government, aided, and private schools in the district to organize mandatory parent meetings on September 28 to address the issue. The outcome of the meeting has to be submitted to the DC by October 3.

According to the DC 2,171 students were absent during a baseline test conducted across the district on August 28. The test was modeled after public examinations.

The Mission Vidyakashi program has been implemented in the district by the Department of Public Instructions under the leadership of the DC and with the support of experts to improve SSLC results and enhance the quality of education in the district.

But officials have noted that in several high schools across the district, some 10th-grade students have been persistently absent, and only after teachers visit their homes do a few of them attend school for a few days before going absent again.

Principals of all the High Schools have been instructed to hold a special meeting with the parents of absent students on September 28, with the aim of encouraging regular attendance. The Block Education Officers have been asked to ensure these meetings take place at all the schools in their jurisdiction.

The meeting has to include headmasters, SDMC presidents, members, Gram Panchayat president and members, ward corporators or panchayat members and PDOs.

Head teachers have been asked to confirm the actions taken by filling the prescribed format and submit the report to the Block Education Officers (BEO). The BEOs should verify the taluk-wise information and submit it to DDPI. The DDPI will then submit the district's complete report to the Deputy Commissioner's office. The Deputy Commissioner has asked to submit the report by October 3.