Assam Launches Second Chance Education Drive to Combat Dropout Rates

Guwahati: Assam kicked off its Second Chance Education initiative on July 9 in Morigaon. The program targets out-of-school adolescents and young adults who need to finish their secondary or senior secondary schooling. It uses flexible open schooling to get them back on track.

Morigaon faces steep challenges. Official figures show a 24.32 percent dropout rate for girls at the secondary level. Early marriage remains a primary culprit, as 39.1 percent of women wed before 18. Mapping efforts already spotted over 24,000 women in Self-Help Groups who lack a secondary education. An additional 471 out-of-school children appeared in recent survey data.

Morigaon District Commissioner Anamika Tewari pushed the effort forward during a local consultation. She noted, "the initiative offers a meaningful opportunity for out-of-school youth, especially girls and young women, to complete their education and move towards skill development and sustainable livelihoods."

Five districts now host this pilot: Biswanath, Dhubri, Karbi Anglong, Morigaon, and Nagaon. The state aligns the work with the National Education Policy 2020. Learners will use the National Institute of Open Schooling or the Assam State Open School to earn their credentials.

Multiple state agencies are sharing the workload. ASRLM and the Women and Child Development Department will handle mobilization and awareness. Meanwhile, Samagra Shiksha Assam and the Assam Skill Development Mission will manage academic support and vocational training. The districts are currently building action plans to link these students directly to future employment.