Tracking Odisha’s missing schoolchildren

When over 43,000 students failed to turn up for the Class X exam last month, the government ordered an inquiry. Reports on the ground reveal that in the State’s tribal heartland, poor quality of education, shortage of teachers and lack of high schools have resulted in some students migrating for work and others opting for early marriage

Amid the rhythmic beating of drums on a hot afternoon in May, members of the Kolha tribe dance and enjoy a traditional drink to celebrate the spring festival of Manay Chuiti Parab at Ranipokhari, a tribal village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. Making her way through the festive crowd is 16-year-old Koili Khuntia, who eyes young girls trying to dance in sync as she serves bowls full of handia: a local brew made of rice and intoxicants.

Even as Koili goes about her job, over five lakh children her age in the State are busy preparing for the High School Certificate (Class X) examination, which began on April 29. A student of the Government Upgraded High School in Ranipokhari, Koili had filled up the form to sit for the exam, but decided to skip it.

On May 7, the day the exams ended, Bishnupada Sethi, Secretary, School and Mass Education Department, said of the 5.71 lakh students who had filled up forms, 43,489 did not turn up. He then ordered an immediate inquiry.

Mr. Sethi said student absenteeism was more marked in the State’s districts such as Mayurbhanj, Ganjam and Balangir. Last year, only 4,412 students had skipped the exam. He said the large-scale absence of students could be attributed to dipping interest in online classes and families migrating for work.

However, reports on the ground reveal that the pandemic-induced prolonged closure of schools, shortage of teachers, poor quality of education, lack of high schools and inadequate hostel facilities have resulted in some students taking up jobs and others opting for early marriage.

Koili says she does not regret her decision to skip the important exam. Like the majority of students in Odia-medium schools, Koili has no access to a smartphone to attend online classes. She says she did not receive a single phone call from the teachers assigned to counsel pupils during the pandemic. Nevertheless, two years later, her teachers asked her to fill up the form to appear for the Class X examination.

“My mother is drunk all the time. My father spares little time or money for me. My brother has to fend for himself even after clearing the Class X exam. What option was I left with? I knew how to brew handia. I started making a living by selling the drink here and there,” she says.