Call Reports On Pre And Post Covid Student Enrolment In Schools, Take Steps To Bring Back Dropouts: Calcutta High Court To State

The Calcutta High Court recently directed the State to take necessary steps to sensitise the parents of those children, who have dropped out of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, regarding the need of education and to take further steps to bring them back to the schools.

While hearing a PIL on the issue, the division bench of the Acting Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya said:

“Commissioner of School Education shall also call for reports from various districts as regards the students strength in the respective schools pre-Covid and post-Covid and necessary steps can be taken to sensitise the parents of those children regarding the need for education and steps have to be taken to provide clean atmosphere, good drinking water, mid-day meal etc. to bring back the drop out students to school.”

In the PIL, the petitioner Sayan Banerjee said that due to the disruption in education during pandemic, a large number of students who dropped out from government schools.

"By this public interest litigation, the petitioner who is a practicing Advocate of this Court highlights a very important issue regarding the drop out of students from various schools in particular government schools," said the court.

The court suggested that a wide publication can be given in the media including television channels impressing upon the need for good education for the children regardless of whatever strata the parents come from.

“We hope and trust that the observations made by us in this order will be taken in the right spirit and the government will take pro-active steps to the grievance expressed,” it said, while disposing of the PIL.

Case Title: Sayan Banerjee v. The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Click Here to Read/Download Order