The state government is going to take a serious initiative to ensure that the education of minority and other backward class (OBC) students does not stop & stay connected with the school. Minority and OBC residential plus two schools are going to be opened in the five divisions of the state. All these schools will be established on the lines of Eklavya Model Residential Schools. There are 5.96 lakh minority students in government schools in the state.

Of these, 13 percent are those who have been dropped out. Which means One has left school. At the same time, 11 percent of the 22.30 lakh OBC students in the state have dropped out. For the first time, such schools are being opened targeting the children of minority-backward castes of Jharkhand. These schools will be run by the Welfare Department. The proposal has been prepared by the department.

According to the department, in the division where there are more minority and OBC children, residential plus two schools will be opened. Welfare Minister Champai Soren and Minority Welfare Minister Hafizul Hasan will choose the districts. The department will send the file to both the ministers in a day or two. Once the districts are selected, DC will mark the land. After this the department will start getting the building constructed from the Building Construction Corporation.

Classes 6 to 12 will be taught in these schools. 80-80 students will be admitted in all classes. The school will have a total strength of 480 children. Students will not have to bear the cost of school education, lodging, book-copying. The children will be enrolled on the basis of the screening test.

Free text books, free uniforms, food etc. will be available in these residential schools. It is estimated that 32 thousand rupees will be spent annually per student of class six to eight, while it is estimated that up to 35 thousand rupees will be spent on children up to class 12th.

The drop out rate of minority children is high. Many of these children drop out even after the sixth grade. In view of these conditions, the state government has planned to open a separate plus two school for them.

(Agencies)