In a major effort to reconnect children with the education system, Samagra Shiksha, Assam has begun a statewide survey aimed at identifying students who are out of school, have dropped out, or have remained absent from classes for extended periods.
Named “Shiksha Yatra – From Challenges to Aspirations,” the initiative will involve extensive door-to-door visits across school catchment areas between August 20 and September 23, 2026.
The survey is designed not only to identify children who have left the education system but also to track their circumstances and facilitate their return to mainstream schooling wherever possible.
Focus on Long-Absent Students and Dropouts
The exercise will place particular emphasis on students who have remained absent for more than 45 days, along with children classified as transitional dropouts after completing Classes V, VIII and X.
According to the information released, the survey will cover approximately 4,43,954 long-absent students and 68,410 transitional dropouts, making it one of the most extensive education-focused field exercises undertaken in the state.
The findings are expected to help authorities develop targeted interventions for children who require support to resume their education.
Thousands of Surveyors to Participate
A total of 2,862 survey personnel will be deployed for the statewide exercise. This includes 2,733 District Quality Managers and Education Volunteers associated with residential and non-residential Special Training Centres (STCs).
School Management Committees, along with other field-level education functionaries, will also play an active role in the household-level survey.
Surveyors will receive training on the use of a dedicated Survey App, which will be used for identifying children, verifying information and recording data accurately.
Concern Over Number of Out-of-School Children
The initiative comes against the backdrop of significant concerns regarding the number of children outside the formal education system in Assam.
As per findings cited from the PLFS Survey 2025, an estimated 4,52,321 children aged between 14 and 18 years in the state are out of school.
The state has also proposed support through open schooling for 5,273 children during the 2025–26 financial year and 6,953 children during 2026–27.
Officials believe that a detailed household-level survey will help identify eligible children more effectively and enable authorities to provide suitable educational pathways, including mainstream schooling and open education opportunities.
Through the Shiksha Yatra initiative, Samagra Shiksha, Assam aims to build a clearer picture of children who have become disconnected from education and strengthen efforts to ensure that they are given an opportunity to return to learning.
