Lucknow: Students from 23 districts of Uttar Pradesh found a platform to air their grievances at the Bal Samvaad Programme organized by Vigyan Foundation in association with KNH Germany, TDH Germany, and Dialogue Works. The program was held at the Radha Kamal Mukherjee Hall of the Department of Social Work at Lucknow University.

The program was graced by members of the State Child Protection Rights Commission, including Suchitra Chaturvedi, Anita, Shyam Tripathi, Professor Arvind Awasthi from Lucknow University, Proctor Rakesh Dwivedi, and Head of Department Professor R. K Singh.

The objective of the program was to listen to the children on their issues to address the dropout ratio in schools.

Children from 23 districts of the state who participated in the event spoke about the problems they face, such as errant teachers, no playgrounds, no toilets, and violations of RTE (Right To Education).

RTE Violation by Private Schools Reported by Students and Parents

Mahima Patel, a student from Varanasi studying at Shreejan Public School, said, “I am an RTE student, yet the school demands fees from us. The teacher warns us before exams that I won’t be allowed to appear if I don't pay. When I asked the accountant why I should pay when I am an RTE student, he said, 'We will see,' and then allowed us for the exam. When we ask for games, they call us 'idiot' and 'nonsense.' They take non-RTE students for dance classes but don't teach us.”

Rajesh Kumar from Varanasi told The Mooknayak, “My daughter Sakshi got admission at RS World School under RTE, but they charged a whopping 8000 per annum for activity and another 900 per month for the mess charges.” He also shared a copy of the receipt with The Mooknayak.

Vishal from Hamirpur said, “We are made to clean the classroom and not provided milk.”

Roshan from Jaunpur, whose parents work at a brick kiln as bonded laborers, said, “People at the brick kiln force us to work; I have to carry bricks prepared by our parents.”

Ajay Kumar Yadav, working with Maanav Vikas Sansthan in Varanasi, said, “The laborers working at the brick kiln are mainly migrants, and the brick kiln owners engage these children in work. Consequently, the children are not able to receive education. I want the SCPCR to issue guidelines that the brick kiln owners themselves get the children of their laborers enrolled in the nearest government primary school.”

After listening to the students’ problems, the honorable members of the SCPCR assured to address the issues faced by the children. Suchitra Chaturvedi, a member of SRCPCR, said, “We will convey your grievances to the respective departments.” She urged the students not to use polythene.

According to data released by UDISE (Unified Digital Information on School Education), Uttar Pradesh has a high dropout rate of 14% for students studying in primary school and 31% for students studying at the secondary level. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022, released earlier this year, revealed that at 15%, Uttar Pradesh has the second-highest number of girls in the 15-16 age group after Madhya Pradesh. The National Education Policy aims to achieve 100% enrollment by 2030.

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