Uttar Pradesh Launches ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ to Bring Dropout Children Back to Classrooms

The Uttar Pradesh government has rolled out a renewed phase of its ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’, setting a target to bring nearly 1.5 lakh out-of-school children back into the formal education system. The campaign, which begins this month, will be carried out in two phases across April and July, with a focus on districts reporting higher dropout rates.

Officials have indicated that the drive will prioritise enrolment of girls and children from economically weaker sections, where discontinuation of schooling remains a persistent concern. The initiative will be supported by digital tracking through the Sharda portal, aimed at identifying and monitoring students who have fallen out of the system.

While such enrolment campaigns have been undertaken in previous years, their long-term success has often depended on retention rather than initial admissions. Factors such as household income pressures, migration and gaps in school infrastructure continue to influence attendance patterns, particularly in rural areas.

The current effort signals an administrative push to address these gaps at scale. However, the effectiveness of the campaign will hinge on sustained follow-up within classrooms, where the challenge is not only to bring children back, but to ensure they remain engaged in the learning process.