Bardhaman teachers go door-to-door as govt school enrollments hit record low

In an unprecedented move in Katwa, Bardhaman, teachers from a local government school have taken to visiting households directly to encourage parents to enroll their children in school. As the new academic year unfolds, the number of students enrolling, particularly in pre-primary and first grades, has sharply declined. With the admissions for the current year at a historic low, teachers have found themselves walking door-to-door to ensure the survival of their school.

Haripur Majhipara Free Primary School, currently operating with just 31 students across four grades, is facing a significant challenge. The school has seen very few applications for new students, and the drop in enrollment numbers has become a growing concern for its teachers. To address the situation, Headmaster Kaushik Dey and teacher Mamoni Kharot Mondal are visiting local homes to target families with children who are of school-going age. The teachers are specifically looking for households with five-year-old children who are eligible for enrollment in pre-primary classes.

During these visits, teachers are explaining the benefits of enrolling in government schools, highlighting that essentials such as uniforms, books, and other supplies are provided free of cost. This outreach aims to ease the financial burden on families in rural areas and encourage them to consider sending their children to school. Despite the teachers’ efforts, some parents remain reluctant to enroll their children, citing various reasons, though some have agreed to proceed with the enrollment.

The enrollment crisis at Haripur Majhipara and similar schools in the region underscores the broader challenges faced by government institutions in rural areas. Headmaster Kaushik Dey, who joined the school a few months ago, expressed concern about the future of the school, emphasizing the importance of increasing student numbers for the institution’s survival. Teachers are continuing their door-to-door outreach as part of a last-ditch effort to ensure that children in the community have access to education.