In a significant move to bring back out-of-school children into the fold of education, the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has taken a proactive initiative. These students will be brought under the ambit of the online admission process and will be allowed to take admission in Class XI afresh in the current academic year (2024-2025). The decision was made after receiving numerous applications from students expressing their desire to continue their education under the new semester system, according to the Council's President, Chiranjib Bhattacharjee.
The decision comes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely disrupted regular schooling for nearly two years. While online classes were introduced from 2020 onwards, many students faced challenges due to the lack of adequate infrastructure and financial constraints, leading to a rise in dropout rates. This was reflected in the statistics of the 2022 Madhyamik (Secondary Examination), where nearly 4 lakh students did not register for the exam.
According to data from the Education Department, the dropout rate at the secondary level post-pandemic was 4.18%. At the higher secondary level, the dropout rate stood at around 4.01%.
Overall, the initiative by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education aims to provide a second chance to students who dropped out due to various circumstances. The online admission process is expected to streamline the re-enrollment process and make it more accessible for these students.