Haryana: A survey conducted by the authorities under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), in Sirsa district of Haryana, reveals that around 20% of children between the age groups of 11 - 14 are the school drop-outs.

Out of 70,000 children in the 11 - 14 age groups, 14,333 have either dropped out of schools or have never enrolled in any school. However, the survey also reveals that the dropout in the age group of 6 - 11 years is much less, with 3,493 children. Among a total of 1,26428 children, 1,22,735 children in the age group of 6 - 11 are enrolled in various schools.

The dropouts are a common feature not only in rural area but also in the urban areas. Among 3,493 children outside schooling, 1,847 were from rural areas while 1,646 belonged to the urban areas.

An official spokesperson informed under a special drive launched by the SSA that the authorities have enrolled more than 900 children to different schools. He further highlighted that under the Right to Education Act, a child has a right to be enrolled in his/her age appropriate class whether he/she has passed the previous classes or not.

The authorities had been imparting "bridge course" to such students in order to make them at par with other children in the class.