New academic session begins in Odisha: Collectors asked to identify out of school children

With the commencement of the new academic session from April 1, the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) has issued a directive to all district collectors to identify children between the ages of 6 to 14 who have either dropped out or have not yet enrolled in schools. 

This initiative is in line with the Centre’s efforts to ensure universal access to education under the Right to Education Act, 2009, and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

OSEPA has instructed the district authorities to urgently upload relevant data on the Prabandh Portal—a centralised platform created to monitor out-of-school children and dropout trends. The move aims to bring every child into the fold of formal education and bridge any learning gaps.

As part of the new academic year celebrations, a special programme was launched on April 2, promoting fresh school enrolments. Parents, teachers, local representatives, and members of civil society enthusiastically participated in the event, marking a community-driven effort to ensure inclusive education.

According to NEP 2020, children aged 5 to 6 should be enrolled in pre-primary (Shishu Vatika), while those above 6 years should begin Class 1. To meet this vision, district officials have been asked to identify students who are out of school for more than 3, 6, or even 12 months, and necessary steps—including special bridge courses and training—should be taken to reintegrate them into mainstream education.

OSEPA's letter also emphasized that the Prabandh Portal will play a vital role in tracking progress and aligning interventions with national education goals.

Out Of School Children

The out of school children (never enrolled and drop out) in the age group of 6 to 14 years should be identified in the campaign and be admitted to appropriate classes as per RTE Act, 2009. If required, special training may be provided to these out of school children of 3, 6, and 12-month duration and mainstream them after the training.