‘Why study when they can help us earn?’: Question Ahmedabad teachers faced during drive to bring dropouts back to school

Ahmedabad teachers faced numerous challenges during their summer campaign to bring back over 6,400 students who had dropped out of municipal schools in the previous year. Head teacher Neetaben N Bhadresha, from Vasna Municipal Primary School, spent her vacation knocking on doors and convincing parents to allow their children to return to school. She explained that despite the children's desire to attend classes, their parents insisted they help with work, such as selling vegetables or working in wholesale markets.

Teachers encountered various obstacles. Suketubhai Yagnik, a teacher in Asarwa area, faced difficulties re-enrolling over 80% of his 37 female students. Their parents believed girls should focus on household chores after a certain age, rather than pursuing education. In Asarwa, where many residents are migrants, teachers had to contend with frequent moves as families searched for work. Contact information quickly became outdated, making it difficult to maintain communication with students and their families.

Sitaben Patel, a teacher in Chanakya Gujarati Primary School, dealt with the challenge of migration, particularly among families from Rajasthan and other parts of Gujarat who worked in footwear-making. She tracked down students in temporary locations, often along railway tracks, and successfully re-enrolled them, even admitting a few students who had dropped out after Class VIII back into Class XI.

Sanjay Raval, principal of the same school, noted that 80% of parents in the area worked in footwear-making, while others were sanitary workers. Teachers in Ramol area, such as Pareshbhai Patel at Indrapuri Public School, tracked down 44 dropout students from Class 9. They visited slums in Khandwadi, Dantanivas, and Hanumannagar and managed to re-enroll all 44 students.

The Ahmedabad Municipal School Board Administration praised the teachers for their success, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel recognizing their efforts. The re-enrollment drive fell under the Samras Vidya Setu campaign, with several teachers receiving felicitations for their work.