Nellore: In order to check student dropout rate among child workers in the state, an international organisation based in France is setting up worksite schools to impart training to the children with the help of NGOs in 22 districts. The government’s Rajiv Vidya Mission will monitor its implementation.
Worksite schools are those which function close to the sites where children work, like near brick kilns, rice mills, agriculture fields and small factories. Sources said volunteers and vocational trainers would impart basic education to these children at their worksites itself.
This programme would be implemented in a phased manner in all the 22 districts except Hyderabad over the next 10 months.
Initially, 1,500 child workers from each district would be enrolled in the first phase. There are 1.6 lakh child labourers in the state. “Once the concept is received well, there are plans to open special training centres and need-based schools for the children,” sources said. Aide et Action, an international charity institution based in France, has taken the lead in executing the project.
While out of every 100 children enrolled in primary schools, 43 fail to reach standard VII and 63 drop out before completing their X standard, this programme has been designed to retain the children. The Centre would provide funds to the monitoring organisation.