Prevention of Drop-outs in Schools 2025
Prevention of Drop-outs in Schools, students who are susceptible to dropping out from school and undertake remedial action for preventing such drop-outs, PBSSM in collaboration with UNICEF has developed a module on Early Warning System for Preventing Drop-outs in current session.
- Guidelines of Early Warning System for Prevention of Drop-outs, Memo No. 09(20)/CM&AS/ 124/PBSSM/2024-25 Date:20.09.2025
- Follow up of reports pertaining to Early Warning System for preventing Drop-out in Schools, Memo No. 25(24)/124/CM&AS/PBSSM/2025-26 Date: 18.07.2025
- Guidelines on Early Warning System for Preventing Dropouts in West Bengal
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Guidelines of Early Warning System for Prevention of Drop-outs
The State Project Director, PBSSM
Memo No. 09(20)/CM&AS/124/PBSSM/2024-25 Date:20.09.2025
➤Download Notification (Click here)
In an effort to identify the students who are susceptible to dropping out from school and undertake remedial action for preventing such drop-outs, PBSSM in collaboration with UNICEF has developed a module on Early Warning System for Preventing Drop-outs during 2023. Along with the module, a draft Reporting Format is also provided for tracking attendance of enrolled irregular children. A module on Early Warning System for Prevention of Drop-out has been incorporated in the Banglar Shiksha Portal also, which is updated on daily basis at School level. The programme has been successfully implemented in the 4 Jungle Mahal district of Bankura, Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur and Purulia respectively. Now the said programme shall be implemented in other district also.
Considering the massive positive impact of this programme in reducing irregular attendance along-with social evils like child marriage and child labour, it has been decided to implement the Early Warning System for preventing dropouts in the rest 20 district of the State also. This will strengthen the monitoring mechanism and help in regularizing the attendance of children in school, thereby reducing the number of drop-outs.
The guideline of the programme along-with the necessary formats are attached along-with for your perusal and further reference. You are requested to take necessary initiative for implementation of this programme in your district.
Sd/- State Project Director
PBSSM
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Guidelines on Early Warning System for Preventing Dropouts in West Bengal
Background
West Bengal is a State with varied socio-economic conditions. The number of out of school children, as revealed from the PRABANDH Portal database, around 6764 children between the age group 6-18 years are still out of school. In the case of in-school students, the irregularity in attendance is also observed. In most cases, their absence ranges from one day in a week to three days in week and in some cases, especially children with disabilities, they attend only one day in fortnight or month. A large number of children, especially girls and children from minority communities reach school late and lose out on the number of academic hours.
The School Education Department aims to improve this situation using a two-pronged strategy:
2. Identifying students who are at the verge of dropping out and preventing dropout
While several steps are already underway for mainstreaming out of school children, an Early Warning System is being set up so that local authorities at the school and sub-district level can take quick measures to facilitate the needs of such students.
Several educational systems globally utilise Early Warning Systems to create feedback loops that protect and support vulnerable children. Such systems are run at the school, sub-district and district level and track indicators such as attendance and academic performance as well as community welfare indicators. When remedial steps are taken in time, students are less likely to drop out and tend to continue their education.
The School Education Department, Government of West Bengal has decided that certain key performance indicators should be monitored at the school, block and district level so that children at the verge of dropping out are identified in time so as to reduce dropouts. The suggested measures are divided into the following steps:
1. Defining Early Signs of Potential Dropouts that schools should watch out for in students
2. Defining Steps for Remedial Action for authorities at school and circle level to manage students at risk of dropout and those already dropped out
3. Bi-monthly tracking by School Inspectors.
Guidelines at School Level
It is recommended that all schools in the State under the management of School Education Department keep track of the following early signs of students at-risk of dropping out and undertake the suggested steps for remedial action. A register must be maintained in the office of the Head Teacher (HT) or Teacher In-Charge (TIC) and duly authenticated by HT/TIC for this purpose.
Please note that the list of early signs and remedial actions are indicative, not exhaustive, and the reporting format is a suggestion and schools must adapt the guidelines as per their contextual needs.
2. The reporting format should be filled as and when a student is identified as at-risk of dropping out.
3. The organisation of the reporting format may be modified if the number of instances is very high. In which case, separate tables may be maintained for each class or month.
4. Further, if a previously at-risk student, who is brought back to school, again becomes at risk of dropping out, a new entry should be made against their name in the register.
5. The list of Early Signs of Potential Dropouts and Steps for Remedial Action must be made available to all teachers in the school by the HT/TIC. The two lists may be modified and updated at the school level as per the contextual needs of the school and the community.
6. Students may display one or more signs from the list shared. Teachers and head teachers should make use of their experience and judgement when classifying a student as at-risk of dropping out.
7. Similarly, a dropped-out student may require one or more interventions from the list of steps for remedial action. Teachers and head teachers should make use of all possible resources available to them to ensure that the student comes back to school.
8. The updated lists must be shared with parents of all school students in the next parent teacher meeting.
9. The HT/TIC should organize a meeting with the parents specially for apprising them about this programme. Parents should be motivated to ensure that their children attend school regularly. They should collaborate with school authorities to ensure that the dropout rates are reduced.
Early Signs of Potential Dropouts
Given below are some of the early signs displayed by students who are at-risk of dropping out from school. Please note that students may display one or more of these signs and teachers and head teachers should make use of their experience and judgement when classifying a student as at-risk.
Additionally, excused absences such as illness, wedding or death in the family, family visit etc. may not be counted towards this list. If possible, students should submit a leave application signed by their parents. Only unexcused absences should be counted towards these early signs.
• High Absenteeism:
Schools should watch out for children who remained absent for more than five days in a fortnight or more than seven days in a month. Regular absenteeism can indicate a lack of interest of the student or external factors affecting attendance.
• Poor Academic Performance:
Consistently low grades, a decline in academic achievement, or difficulty in keeping up with coursework can be indicate that a student is struggling to keep up with school work and is potentially at risk of dropping out.
Behavioural Issues:
Behavioural problems can manifest in various ways, such as disruptive class room behaviour, conflicts with peers or teachers, increased aggression, or withdrawal from social activities. Students displaying such tendencies are likely facing some problems in their personal life whether at home, at school or elsewhere. Schools should display sensitivity when dealing with such students.
• Declining School Engagement:
A sudden decrease in a student's participation in cocurricular activities, clubs, or school events can be a sign of disconnection from the school community. Teachers should try to find out why this change has taken place and seek to address the issue.
• Family Challenges:
Family-related stressors, such as financial difficulties, separation of parents, or unstable home environments, can significantly impact a student's well-being and school performance. Schools should be sensitive to such issues and ensure that students feel safe in discussing them with teachers.
• Substance Abuse:
The use of drugs or alcohol among students, especially at a young age, can be a red flag. Substance abuse may indicate coping mechanisms for underlying issues and should be addressed with proper intervention and support.
• Peer Pressure and Bullying:
Peer pressure, as well as bullying, can contribute to a student's decision to drop out. Schools should implement a zero-tolerance policy against bullying and ensure that students adversely affected by peer pressure are made to feel safe and comfortable in the school environment.
Identifying these early signs and promptly intervening to address the underlying issues can help prevent students from dropping out and support their continued success in education.
Steps for Remedial Action
Given below are some of the suggested preventive measures for children who are at-risk of dropping out or have already dropped out from school. Please note that these students may require one or more interventions from the list below. Teachers and head teachers should make use of all possible resources available to them to ensure that the student comes back to school.
A ‘Buddy System’ should be used to pair students in each class. The class teacher should create pairs of students in the class based on proximity to residence. In case a child does not come to school, the buddy should go to their house to find out why and report to the teacher the next day.
• Phone calls should be made by teachers to parents of children who did not attend school for more than 3 days consecutively. Reasons for the absence should be inquired and parents should be motivated to send their children to school. If necessary, the matter may be escalated to the head teacher. Absences in case of illness may be reasonably excused.
• Visits should be made by teachers to homes of children who remained absent for more than 5 days in a fortnight. Reasons for the absence should be inquired and parents should be motivated to send their children to school. If necessary, the matter may be escalated to the head teacher. Absences in case of illness may be reasonably excused.
• Joint visits by School Management Committee (SMC) members and teachers should be made to the homes of children who remained absent for more than 10 days in a month. Reasons for the absence should be inquired and parents should be motivated to send their children to school. Absences in case of illness may be reasonably excused.
• At-risk students should be paired with mentors or older students who can offer guidance and support. These mentors should serve as positive role models and help build a sense of belonging within the school community.
For children who have already been identified as at-risk, the teachers and head teacher should organize the following activities:
o Help them see the connection between education and their future opportunities. Work with at-risk students to set achievable long-term goals and aspirations. The Career Guidance Portal on Banglar Shiksha may be used for the same.
o Help them explore alternative education pathways such as open schooling or vocational training for students who may benefit from a different learning environment.
o Recognize and celebrate improved attendance records of students who have previously been identified as at-risk. (“Star of the week”, “Most improved attendance award”)
• Schools should collaborate with community leaders and NGOs to organize awareness events against early/child marriage. Teachers should visit the homes of at-risk students who have dropped out due to early/child marriage and try to convince the parents to continue the schooling of their child.
During their supportive supervision visits, the SIs/AIs should visit at least two families (if applicable) from which students have been identified as at-risk.
Reporting Format for Head Teachers
School Name: .............................................. UDISE Code: ................................
Circle: .............................................. District: .........................................
|
Sl. No |
Name of Student |
Class Enrolled In |
No of Days Absent
in Last Month |
Reason(s) Student is
Identified as At-risk |
Date when student
is Identified as At-risk |
Date when student
is brought back to school |
Reason if student
is NOT brought back to school |
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Guidelines for School Inspectors
School inspectors (SIs and AIs) should support the schools in their circles in implementing this programme. They will check how many students have been identified as at-risk of dropping out and how many have been brought back to school.
• SI will collect data from all schools in their circle on a bi-monthly basis (i.e., once in two months). The data should be aggregated for all schools using the reporting format given below.
• The inspectors could check the total attendance of the school in the last 4-6 weeks and see if the overall trend is declining. The difference between the attendance should be roughly similar to the number of students identified as at-risk of dropping out.
• Upon issuance of these guidelines, the SI should call a meeting of the school teachers, head teacher and the School Management Committee. It should be ensured that the abovementioned remedial steps are put into action so that the children at-risk can be brought back to school.
• As mentioned earlier, the SI/AI should visit the homes of students with the school authorities and convince the parents to send the child back to school during their supportive supervision visits.
Reporting Format for SIs/AIs-Circle Level
The following format will be filled by the SIs/AIs for the schools in their respective circle(s). The format should be filled once in every two months.
Date: .............................................. Circle: ................................ District: ................................
|
Sl. No |
Name of School |
UDISE Code |
Enrolment as of
today |
Enrolment as of one
month age (4-6 weeks before today) |
No of students
Identified as At-risk of Dropping Out |
No of At-Risk
Students Brought Back to School |
No of Students No
Longer Attending Any Educational Institution* |
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* Educational Institutions include all Government and Private Schools, Madrasahs, Open Schooling, Vocational Institutes etc.
Guidelines for District Inspectors
District inspectors (Secondary and Primary) should play the role of guidance and support for implementing this programme. They should compile a report using the format below to check how many students have been identified as at-risk of dropping out and how many have been brought back to school.
• Wherever necessary, the DI should support the SI/AI and school authorities by providing necessary guidance and support so that parents of at-risk or dropped out students can be convinced to send their children back to school.
Reporting Format for DIs/DEOs-District Level
The following format will be filled at the district level by compiling data from all the circles. The format should be filled once in every two months.
|
Sl. No |
Name of Circle |
Total Enrolment as
of today |
Total Enrolment as
of one month ago (4-6 weeks before today) |
Total No. of Students Identified as At-Risk of Dropping
Out |
Total No of At-Risk
Students Brought Back to School |
Total No of
Students No Longer Attending Any Educational Institution |
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Timeline of Activities on Early Warning System for Preventing Dropouts
|
Sl No |
Activity |
Responsibility |
Timeline |
|
1. |
Issuing
guidelines to respective districts |
PBSSM |
By 20.09.24 |
|
2. |
Orienting
DEOs, DIS(PE)s and DIS(SE)of concerned districts regarding the programme |
PBSSM & UNICEF |
By 27.09.24 |
|
3. |
DEO
and DIS will orient all Sis regarding objectives and procedure of the programme |
DEO and DIS |
By 30.09.24 |
|
4. |
Sub
Inspector of Schools will orient HoI of all schools regarding the programme |
SIs of Circle |
By 04.10.24 |
|
5. |
Informing
all parents about the programme and guiding them to reduce unexcused absences
of their wards |
HoI of Schools |
Before Puja Vacations |
|
6. |
Portal
updation and development of mobile App |
BSP Team |
By 30.10.24 |
|
7. |
Status
review with the Districts |
PBSSM,
UNICEF & BS TEAM |
Mid-November (After Puja Vacation) |
.........................................................
The Principal Secretary, School Education Department
Memo No. 25(24)/124/CM&AS/PBSSM/2025-26 Date: 18.07.2025
Follow up of reports pertaining to Early Warning System for preventing Drop-out in Schools
➤Download Notification (Click here)
Madam/Sir,
You are aware that the Early Warning System for preventing dropouts is an important intervention of School Education Department for arresting dropouts in the Schools of the State. This measure not only identifies the long absentee students who are susceptible to dropout from school, but it also undertakes remedial actions for preventing further dropouts.
It is highly appreciating that most of the district are meticulously undertaking this programme and updating their status in Banglar Shiksha Portal.
However, the latest report for the month of June 2025 (copy enclosed) shows that some 7 district (Jalpaiguri, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24-Parganas, Paschim Medinipur, Paschim Burdwan and Purba Medinipur) have identified large number of absentee school students who are yet to be brought back to school for regular attendance. These 7 district may need to do extensive follow up and coordinate with schools for effectively regularizing the attendance of children who are irregular in school, thus preventing further dropout. Another 3 district (Darjeeling, Kalimpong, South 24-Parganas) have identified a meagre number of enrolled students as "At-Risk of Dropping out". Theses 3 districts may carryout extensive monitoring for thorough identification of irregular students and regularize their attendance in school. Rest districts may continue monitoring for identification as well as regularizing attendance and thus reducing the number of children identified as high-risk of dropping out.
Your cooperation is highly solicited to curb the long absentee and arrest further dropouts from the school system.
Sd/- Principal Secretary
School Education Department
Date: 17.07.2025
.........................................................
District wise Report for Early Warning for Preventing Dropouts
As on 24.06.2025
|
Sl No |
Name of District |
Total Enrolment as of today |
Total Enrolment as of previous year | Total No of Students Identified as At-risk of Dropping Out |
Total No of At-Risk Students Brought Back to School |
Total No of Students No Longer Attending Any Educational Institution |
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Total=
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