5.43 L children enrol in schools

The three-day school enrolment drive by Gujarat government, aimed at bringing qualitative change in primary education, concluded on Sunday with over 5.43 lakh children getting admitted to class I across the state, an official release said.

The state-wide drive, which began on June 18, was carried out concurrently with the Girl Child Education Festival, which the state government observes every year to ensure that maximum number of girl children enrol in schools.

This year at the end of the enrolment drive, 2.59 lakh girls and 2.83 lakh boys from various parts of the state enrolled for class I, the release said.

On the third and final day, 85,130 girls and 93,321 boys, totalling 1.78 lakh, belonging to five plus age group got admitted to schools, it said.

The government also distributed 'Vidhyalaxmi bonds' among 65,259 girls during the enrolment drive, the release added. Under the scheme, every girl who enrolls into class I from a region where the female literacy rate is below 35 per cent, the government issues Rs1,000 bond in her name, and after she passes class VII, the bond amount is paid to her along with interest.

The government has also collected donations in cash and kind amounting to Rs8.05 lakh during the drive.