Chennai Corporation Launches Drive to Re-Enrol 7,302 Out-of-School Children by August 31

The Greater Chennai Corporation has launched a coordinated initiative to facilitate the re-enrolment of 7,302 out-of-school children across the city by August 31, covering vulnerable neighbourhoods including Thiruvanmiyur Kuppam in Adyar. The initiative aims to bring dropouts back into the classroom and ensure they continue their education.

According to Education Management Information System (EMIS) data from the school education department, nearly 7,302 children across Chennai were found to be out of school. To address this, the civic body has planned a door-to-door exercise across all 200 wards using a team of 96 trained community organisers.

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran inaugurated a coordination meeting on the identification and re-enrolment of out-of-school children at Ripon Buildings on Thursday. During the meeting, 96 community organisers received training to conduct field-level follow-ups, interact with families, provide counselling, coordinate with local schools, and track attendance following re-enrolment.

Sameeran noted that the civic body is currently focusing on children who have already dropped out of school. A larger survey to identify high-risk children will be undertaken after the current exercise concludes.

A senior corporation official engaged in the initiative stated that family disputes, illness affecting children or parents, childcare responsibilities for siblings, lack of parental support, single-parent households, migration, seasonal migration, and financial distress are the primary drivers of school dropouts.

To prevent dropouts caused by financial distress, the corporation plans to identify affected families and provide support. Officials stated that families may be connected to self-help group revolving funds under the Tamil Nadu Women Development Department or assisted with employment opportunities for parents at nearby private companies.

Earlier this year, the school education department conducted a door-to-door survey across vulnerable and sensitive pockets in 10 blocks of Chennai district. The survey was carried out by Block Resource Teacher Educators, teachers, and special educators.

In addition to Thiruvanmiyur Kuppam in Adyar, the earlier survey covered locations such as Ezhil Nagar and Kannagi Nagar in Alandur, Varadharajapuram and Lakshmipuram in Ambattur, TP Chathiram and Bricklin Road in Anna Nagar, Kasimedu in Royapuram, MGR Nagar Housing Board in Kodambakkam, Rama Street in Teynampet, AIR Nagar and Tsunami Quarters in Thiruvottiyur, Pulianthope and Otteri in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, and Vyasarpadi and Kalyanapuram in Tondiarpet.

Through that initial survey, nearly 1,200 children were identified and admitted into schools, while approximately 130 potential dropouts were identified and regularised in their respective schools.