India, Jan. 21 -- The Odisha government has announced a waiver of admission fees, including examination fees, to encourage the enrolment of dropout and out-of-school children aged between 14 and 18 years. The benefit will apply to students seeking admission to the State Institute of Open Schooling. The School and Mass Education Department has issued a formal notification to implement the decision.

Steps to track and bring back dropouts The decision comes amid growing concern over school dropouts in the state. Recently, the School and Mass Education Department directed its field staff to closely monitor student attendance at the elementary level. Under the directive, students who remain absent for a week or more are to be tracked through ...