Absence of students in Class 9 exam will be reviewed: Minister Samir Dash

A day after the board of secondary education (BSE), Odisha reported that nearly 15,000 students skipped the Class 9 annual examination, State School and Mass Education Minister Samir Dash on Wednesday asserted that the matter will be reviewed. 

To put the figures straight, a total of 14,935 Class IX students skipped their annual examination and the government has started brainstorming to find out the root cause behind this. 

The reasons why many of Class IX students skipped the annual examination are to be reviewed and steps to bring them back to schools will be taken after holding discussions with their parents, said Minister Dash, who was in Sambalpur to attend a review meeting on Wednesday.  

Pertinent to mention here that the large scale absence of students in Matric examinations has still been a cause of concern, the number of such students in Sambalpur district are 932. 

“The fact that so many students in Sambalpur district have failed to appear for the examination has been a matter of concern. We are already looking into this to find out the root cause. The department has asked school-wise reports. Since the condition of the education in the district is not up to the mark, the Sub-Collector has been entrusted with the task to take appropriate steps,” said Dash. 

On the other hand, Women and Child Development Minister Tukuni Sahu said her department was yet to receive any report on Class IX students giving a slip to their annual examinations. “However, our efforts are on to bring the dropouts back to schools,” Sahu said. 

Notably, a total of 5,66,269 Class IX students enrolled for the annual examination. Of them, while 14,935 students did not turn up for the examination.