The state higher secondary council has initiated a drive to enrol students who dropped out after writing the secondary exams (Madhyamik), particularly in the two years of the pandemic.

The council on Thursday issued a notification that said they were launching a drive to enrol students who dropped out in 2020 and 2021 because of financial constraints or other problems triggered by Covid.

“The undersigned obtained several requests from the district inspector of schools (Secondary Education), head of the institutions, guardians...to consider the admission and registration of students at Class XI in the academic year 2024-25, who have passed secondary examination prior to the year 2022. The matter is taken into consideration for the general interest of students, especially those who have passed secondary examination (Madhyamik or equivalent examination) in the years 2020 and 2021,” the notice signed by council president Chiranjeeb Bhattacharya said.

“The reason is obviously Covid 19 for which many students might have dropped out from regular studies in the higher secondary level due to financial crisis, lack of convenience, fear of mental and physical hazards.”

Bhattacharya said the council received requests from several quarters so these students who had dropped out could be brought back.

“Usually, we allow the registration of candidates of the last three years, which includes the year a candidate had passed the secondary exams. But this year, we are allowing the registration of candidates of the last five years. The syllabus of the semester system is split into smaller loads, so, these students would find it easier to handle,” Bhattacharya told The Telegraph.

Many who had dropped out at the plus-II level during the pandemic now intend to resume their studies after the implementation of the new semester system, which starts from the 2024-25 academic year, said a council official.

The new system splits the plus-II courses into four semesters.

“Now considering all these aspects, the undersigned is pleased to consider the admission and registration of all the intended drop-out students who have passed secondary examination in 2020 and 2021 from the valid boards for the academic year 2024-25 only. Please note that this is an exceptional drive and cannot be cited as precedent in the future.” the notice said.

Dropouts during Covid has been a matter of concern in Bengal.

The Telegraph reported on July 22, 2022, that the education department had initiated steps to bring students back to class.

An order issued by the directorate of school education on July 13, 2022, had said district education officers would identify students who have not been attending school, with help from anganwadi workers, Asha (accredited social health activist) workers, health workers and other government officials.

“From the primary to secondary level, the dropout rate has been significant. The crisis of earnings in the family forced many parents to make their sons or daughters do odd-jobs or work in factories to sustain their families. We don’t know how many of those who have dropped out would be keen to enrol after four years of being detached from school,” said Swapan Mandal of the Bengal Teachers’ and Employees Association.

A number of students had dropped out as the widespread pandemic-induced economic distress forced them to take up jobs, at times outside the state, for a few hundred rupees, the head of a government school said.