Drive to boost school enrolment launched

Patna: The state education department has launched a monthlong enrolment drive to ensure age-appropriate admission of every child between 6 and 14 years for the 2026-27 academic session. The campaign aims to achieve full school enrolment through household visits, school-level outreach and community participation.

Additional chief secretary of the education department, B Rajender, has asked all 38 district magistrates to oversee the drive across the state. Under the plan, headmasters will assign enrolment duties to teachers, who will work alongside school education committee chairpersons, anganwadi workers and helpers, vikas mitras and tola sevaks to visit households in their respective areas.

Children enrolled at anganwadi centres who have turned six will be admitted to schools in their feeder areas. Anganwadi workers will coordinate with headmasters, fix enrolment dates and inform parents in advance to ensure a smooth admission process. For children not registered at anganwadi centres, household surveys will be conducted to identify them and bring them into the school system.

To widen outreach, the govt will use its social media platforms for awareness campaigns. Schools have also been asked to help parents arrange the documents required for admission and to welcome families in a festive manner, including rangoli and decorated entrances.

After the campaign ends, each headmaster will submit a certificate to the block education officer confirming that no child in the feeder area remains unenrolled. Block-level officials will then compile school-wise enrolment reports and send formal declarations to district authorities.