INTRODUCTION

Toshiya, a School Drop-Out child does not want to leave the school but she has nothing to say.

Family of out of school children change their addresses and stop using the number provided to school or do not receive the calls coming from schools. Whereas, higher authority continuously instructs school leaders and staff to work in the area, motivating drop outs not to discontinue the school and so on. School leader is the accountable to higher authority as well as a listener for teachers, parents and DROP-OUTS AND OoSC IN HARYANA where at many places they are unanswerable and without any clue. One such group of drop-outs and OoSC are those without guardians. For example, children in need of care and protection, including homeless children, runaways, those residing in shelters or orphanages, etc. should be captured.

Scene-I (School Drop-Out story)

School Head: Why didn’t you come to school so long

Toshiya:         I was Taking Care of my younger siblings

School Head:  Then, What’s Next?

Toshiya:         (with a sad voice) I am dropping-out school. But (with Enthusiasm), I like school mam and I want to be a teacher like you.

School Head:  (after a prolonged Silence) hmmmmm! (Deep Breath). Ok Dear send your parents to meet me. Wish you luck!

Scene-II (School Drop-Out story)

School Head:              Why Toshiya is dropping out the school

Toshiya’s Mother:     She is 12 now, no need to study more.

School Head:              Means?

Toshiya’s Mother:     Means, she needs to learn house hold tasks and other life skills, in school she is just wasting time, she can’t even cook. At her age I was able to independently manage the kitchen. I have four other kids, I also need help and in coming years she will be married and will have kids too. She needs to learn all this.

School Head:              But education is also important and child marriage is an offence

Toshiya’s Mother:     Madam! All these are for rich people. We are poor people. Education does not help poor. We need money

School Head:              but education is free mam.

Toshiya’s Mother:     It is not free madam. It is taking much of the time of a child when they can earn and contribute to their family. You tell me! What will she do after completing school?

School Head:              She will have a job. She is a bright student.

Toshiya’s Mother:     Is job guaranteed?

School Head:              No! But there are possibilities.

Toshiya’s Mother:     Madam! We know, after 12 years of school she will ask us to go to some others institution. And, Those are not free. We can’t afford it and in future her marriage will be a difficulty for us. Please let me go.

School Head:              Mam, Please Listen (feeling Helpless)

Toshiya’s Mother:     left the room (silence is around)

What Story of Toshiya, a School Drop-Out child says

Hoping that above mentioned scenes have dismayed you and gave a reminder of the reality that everyday hundreds of students are dropping out in Haryana due to various reasons such as child labour, migration, employability of school education, illiteracy of parents, poverty, more number of children and many more. We as educationist are just aware with the reasons of dropping out of students so far. Whereas, how to answer Toshiya’s mother’s questions is still unknown? In above mentioned situation we could find the reason but in so many cases we are just end with the name of students with limited details as a Drop-Out and OoSC in Haryana.

Out of School Children as per RTI, 2009A child 6-14 years of age will be considered out of school if he/she has never been enrolled in an elementary school or if after enrolment has been absent from school without prior intimation for reasons of absence for a period of 45 days. Generally speaking, OoSC is Never Enrolled + Dropouts.