Guwahati: 30% seats still vacant for girls in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas

GUWAHATI: There are Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) under the central government scheme to reduce the dropout rates of girls. But in Assam, the Education Department has failed to fully enroll girl students in those schools.

There are three types (II, III, and IV) of KGBV functioning in Assam. KGBV Types II and III are residential schools for girls to facilitate out-of-school children belonging to SC, ST, OBC, minority groups, and children of families below the poverty line. A total of 81 KGBVs are functioning in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) and in one town. Out of 81 KGBVs functioning, 14 are type II and 67 are type III. Type-II KGBVs are having classes from VI-X, and type-III KGBVs are having classes from VI-XII. At present, 81 KGBVs have a total seat capacity of 11,450, with a total of 8,101 children enrolled. This means that 70 per cent of the students are enrolled, while the remaining 30 per cent are still vacant.

Recently, an annual report was published by SSA stating that in 14 KGBV Type II, the total seat capacity is 1,400, but 1057 girls students are enrolled. In 67 Type III KGBV, the capacity is 10,050, but 7,044 students are enrolled. According to the report, the year 2022–23 was challenging for KGBVs as the children came back to KGBVs in the months of September and October 2021 after a long vacation due to COVID-19. The teachers and staff have undertaken strategies to retain children in KGBVs and to fill up the learning gaps of children due to the non-functioning of KGBVs for a long period of time. Counselling with children and with parents, home visits during summer vacation to know the status of academic performance of children, and motivation of parents and guardians were undertaken by the teaching staff of KGBVs.

The Type IV KGBV has only hostel facilities. To establish an environment, reduce dropouts, promote the enrolment of girl children belonging to SC/ST/OBC/minority communities and BPL girls, and make secondary education of good quality accessible and affordable residential facilities to girls in the age group of 14–18 years studying in classes IX–XII, KGBV (type IV), Girls Hostel has been implemented. A total of 50 KGBVs (Type-IV) girl hostels are functioning in the Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs), covering 4,006 students.

The official said that from KGBV Type IV, 84.73 per cent of students have been successful in their High School Leaving Certificate examinations in 2023 (HSLC), and 86.53 per of students have passed their Higher Secondary (HS) final examinations in 2023.

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