Working and street children targeted for education: Renuka

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) States and union territories have set up Alternative and Innovative Education (AIE) centres with flexible, context specific pattern to enroll "hard to reach" children, including working children and street children, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury told the Rajya Sabha today.

Giving this information, the Minister said in a written reply that till March 31, 2006, 157,967 new schools have been approved under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and 63 lakh children have been enrolled in the Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) and AIE centres.

Regarding enrolment of children in the 6-14 years age group, she said states and union territories were implementing interventions including opening of new schools and EGS centres, community mobilisation and enrolment drives.

In addition, AIE centres with flexible, context specific pattern are being set up for children who cannot be directly admitted to regular schools. States and UTs were giving increased emphasis on enrolment of "hard to reach" children including working children who migrate with their families and street children.

A total of 237,64 lakh children in the age group of three to six years were receiving pre-school education under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme as on 2005-end, the Minister said.

Pre-primary education is also being provided by private schools and the coverage of children by these schools is not monitored at present, she added.

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