Bengaluru, November 14, 2026: The Karnataka School Education Department has launched a statewide campaign to identify children who have discontinued their education and bring them back into classrooms. The special initiative, being conducted from November 14 to November 30, 2026, aims to ensure that children between the ages of 6 and 18 continue their education without interruption.

The campaign, led by Samagra Shikshana Karnataka (SSK), will cover students studying from Class 1 to II PUC across the state. Schools have been instructed to identify children who have remained absent for more than seven consecutive days without permission or a valid reason and treat them as out-of-school children.

Door-to-Door Visits to Identify School Dropouts

As part of the initiative, government and other participating schools have been instructed to conduct door-to-door visits to identify children who have stopped attending classes.

Teachers and education officials will visit families, interact with parents and encourage them to send their children back to school.

Schools have also been asked to organise meetings with parents and School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) on November 14 to explain the objectives of the campaign and coordinate the identification process.

The department is also seeking the involvement of gram panchayats, local organisations and other government departments to ensure that children who have discontinued their education are identified.

Special Focus on Migrant Families and Disadvantaged Children

The campaign will give particular attention to children from migrant families and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Migration between districts and states is considered one of the important reasons for children discontinuing their education midway through the academic year.

To address this issue, attendance officers have been instructed to coordinate with officials in destination districts whenever a child moves to another district, block or school cluster.

In cases involving interstate migration, the child’s complete details, along with the Permanent Education Number (PEN), must be forwarded to the state office to facilitate continuity in education.

Officials to Visit Workplaces to Identify Children

An important aspect of the campaign is identifying children who may have discontinued schooling and entered the workforce.

Teachers and education officials have been instructed to visit locations such as:

• Agricultural fields and farms.
• Shops and commercial establishments.
• Hotels and restaurants.
• Brick kilns and lime kilns.
• Construction sites.

Officials will interact with parents and employers and encourage children engaged in work to return to the education system.

The initiative particularly focuses on children from daily-wage worker families, where financial difficulties and migration can affect educational continuity.

Open Schooling Opportunity for Students Aged 15–18

The Karnataka government has also made provisions for older children who have discontinued regular schooling.

Students between 15 and 18 years of age will be encouraged to register for examinations through the Karnataka Open Schooling system.

This provides an alternative opportunity for older students to continue their education and complete their examinations without necessarily returning to the conventional classroom system.

Schools Given Funds for Campaign Activities

To support the implementation of the campaign, headmasters have been authorised to spend up to Rs. 1,500 from accumulated school funds or available grants towards publicity and documentation.

Schools must also submit photographs of campaign activities and enrolment statistics to the education department.

Karnataka’s Continuing Efforts to Reduce School Dropouts

The latest initiative comes against the backdrop of continuing concerns about school dropouts in Karnataka.

According to the Karnataka Economic Survey 2025–26, Samagra Shikshana Karnataka identified 6,123 out-of-school children during the year.

Of these, 85 children were brought back into mainstream education through special training, while another 3,602 were brought into the education system through school-based training. The process of mainstreaming the remaining identified children was still underway when the survey was prepared.

The November campaign represents another effort by the state to identify children who have discontinued their studies and facilitate their return to education.

Ensuring Every Child Has Access to Education

The statewide campaign highlights the importance of ensuring that financial difficulties, migration and other social challenges do not prevent children from completing their education.

Through coordinated efforts involving schools, teachers, parents, local authorities and government departments, Karnataka aims to bring more children back into the education system.

The success of the initiative will depend not only on identifying school dropouts but also on ensuring that children continue attending classes after re-enrolment.

The campaign will continue until November 30, 2026, covering children aged 6–18 across Karnataka.

---

News Source: Samagra Shikshana Karnataka circular, as reported by The Times of India and Education Times.

Suggested SEO Title: Karnataka School Dropout Drive 2026: Special Campaign from November 14 to 30

Meta Description: Karnataka launches a statewide school dropout identification drive from November 14 to 30, 2026. The campaign targets children aged 6–18 and aims to bring them back to classrooms.

Focus Keyword: Karnataka School Dropout Drive 2026

Secondary Keywords:

• Karnataka education news 2026
• School dropout campaign Karnataka
• Samagra Shikshana Karnataka
• Karnataka school education department
• Re-enrolment of school dropout children
• Karnataka Open Schooling
• Out-of-school children in Karnataka

Suggested URL Slug: karnataka-school-dropout-drive-2026

Category: Karnataka Education News

Tags: Karnataka Schools, Education News, School Dropouts, Samagra Shikshana Karnataka, School Admissions, Karnataka Government