Recent surveys carried out in Indian cities have shown a demure trend that doesn’t auger well for the social intrepidity of the cities. The slum kids in various Indian cities have been found to increasingly drop out of school that has raised many an alarm bell tolling across concerned quarters. It has been witnessed that even government schemes and social welfares have even failed in multiple cases where they originally intended to increase the numbers and arrest decline.
What is the real picture?
The most worrisome fact of all lies in the fact that the efforts of government and various organizations to promote and improve the state of literacy in the slums are failing in many cases. The visionary steps of the union government to check the school dropout rates have had good results in the past but currently are exhibiting some really disheartening trends to say the least. The midday meal scheme launched by the government to ensure nutrition to underprivileged students and lure them to school is also backtracking and failing to impress many. Assuredly somewhere lies a glitch that is complex and compelling enough that drives these children away from their schools.
Why is the dropout rate rising?
The reasons for rising number of school dropouts among slum children are many and varied in nature. It has been claimed from many quarters that the amenities provided to slum children in schools is no more capable to entice them to school or hold them back at their classes. There has been a remarkable loss of interest among schoolchildren towards their academic curriculum. Moreover the treatment meted out to these kids is often not exactly what is ideally thought of. They are often victims of segregation and biasness owing to their social background. Moreover social and economic aspects too play their part as the parents feel that studies are not their piece of cake and they must work instead of studying. In a city of millions, work is easy to find and pays are also good which lures them away from their classes.
Futuristic steps to arrest the fall
The steps needed to stop the negative fallout must be socially viable and futuristic ideas. Firstly the government may strive towards the betterment of conditions in the schools and ensure that slum kids get the treatment that they should deserve. Kids must find the academic curriculum interesting and absorbing enough to keep their wilfulness affixed on their textbooks. Demure and lacklustre syllabus makes the entire effort monotonous. Awareness about the need for studies is another important step that must be propagated in the slums. The educated must take the onus to educate others on the benefits of education.
How will such steps help?
The implementation of such simple yet much needed steps will help to stop the rising number of dropouts. The dropouts must be lured back to where they belong. The slums are also part of India and we must understand that if they don’t develop, the real development of our nation will never be a possibility. We must expect good social equilibrium and education rates if the dream really comes true in reality.
Tags:
Slum Kids In Indian Cities
Problems With Slum Kids
Children In Schools
