Gujarat State Education Minister Jitu Vaghani, on Tuesday, said that at least 5.72 lakh children were admitted into grade one during the three-day Shala Praveshotsav, a campaign held every year to enroll students in government-run schools.
On June 23, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the 17th Shala Praveshotsav from a primary school under state government in the Vadgam taluka of Banaskantha.
In front of dignitaries across the state, over 5.72 lakh children, including 2.80 lakh girls and 2.91 lakh boys, were enrolled in grade one, the minister said. “The state’s 30,880 government-run primary schools were included in the enrollment campaign. 2.30 lakh children, including 1.12 girls, were also admitted during the drive into kindergartens and anganwadis all around the state,” Vaghani told reporters in Gandhinagar.
During this drive, at least 1,775 physically challenged children were also admitted to grade one, he said.
Prominent citizens and donors contributed cash and Rs 28.53 crore as their contribution to encouraging children to attend school, he said. According to the minister, a local resident in Kashipura village of Banaskantha district donated a plot of land worth Rs 10 lakh for educational purposes.
“During the drive, 494 classrooms were inaugurated for Rs 25.93 crore. As part of the program, transportation for students in 2,364 schools was also launched,” he said.
