Bhubaneswar, 11th Aug 2025: A recent survey has revealed that a large number of children between the ages of 14 and 18 in Odisha are school dropouts. This survey was conducted as part of the ‘Let’s Go to School’ campaign to identify out-of-school children. The findings show that the majority of children in this age group are leaving school midway.
To bring these children back into the mainstream of education, the School and Mass Education Department has initiated special measures. The State Institute of Open Schooling (SIOS) will enroll these dropouts and provide them with opportunities to resume their studies. All District Education Officers have been instructed accordingly.
The initiative primarily targets girls, women, rural youth, working men and women, members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), persons with disabilities, the underprivileged, and other out-of-school children who could not complete formal education.
The State Institute of Open Schooling operates 344 study centers in 30 districts and 314 block headquarters across government high schools. At these centers, children aged 14–18 can enroll free of cost and later appear for the State Open Schooling Certificate (SOSC) examination. District Education Officers have been asked to ensure 100% enrollment of all children identified in the survey into these centers.
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