The Directorate of Elementary Education, Odisha, has issued a new advisory directing all government and government-aided schools to conduct home visits for students absent for a week or more.
The move follows guidelines from the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR).
The advisory highlights that prolonged absenteeism can lead to school dropouts, child labour, and early marriage. To prevent such risks, schools must ensure that teachers, headmasters, or members of the School Management Committee (SMC) personally visit the homes of absent students. These visits aim to identify reasons for absence and provide timely support to families.
According to OSCPCR, home visits can encourage re-enrollment, prevent child exploitation, and safeguard the overall welfare of children. The initiative aligns with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which emphasises the responsibility of local authorities in monitoring attendance and protecting children’s rights.
District Education Officers (DEOs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) have been instructed to implement the advisory immediately. They must report compliance to ensure that no child is left behind in the education system.
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