Tripura Education Dept Set Up 'School On Boat' To Bridge Learning Gap In Dumboor Lake Islands
In a groundbreaking step to overcome the challenges of education access in the remote islands of Dumboor Lake in Dhalai district, Tripura, the Education Department has introduced an innovative initiative called "School On Boat." This unique service aims to provide education to students who face difficulties attending school due to the lack of road connectivity in the area.
Chandni Chandran, the Director of Secondary Education, emphasized the importance of addressing the educational needs of students living on the small islands of Dumboor Lake. To tackle this concern, the Karbook – Dakmura Gomatibari SB School has become a crucial educational institution for many island residents. The situation called for immediate action as students had to rely on unsafe boats for transportation, leading to occasional accidents.
"Dakmura Gumati Senior Basic School has 100 students, but attendance is low due to communication bottleneck. Approximately 50 students come from various islands of Dumbur Lake, and they often fail to attend school because they cannot afford the traveling expense as the boat is their only means of communication," explained Chandni Chandran, State Project Director (SPD) of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
In response to this challenge, Damodar Tripura, the Block Project Coordinator of Samagra Shiksha, devised an ingenious solution by dedicating a boat solely for student use. The funding for this exceptional project was made available through the Access component of Samagra Shiksha. Currently, one boat is in operation, operated by a skilled driver from the local community. Over 100 students have already enrolled in the school, and around 50 students will benefit from the boat service. The boat now makes three trips daily to ensure safe access to education for the students, unlike in the past.
"It was the Block Project Coordinator (BPC) who conceptualized the plan for the school boat for poor tribal students. We provided support by releasing Rs 1.20 lakh under Samagra Shika Abhiyan, which focuses on output-based education," mentioned Chandran, who inaugurated the first-ever school boat in the presence of students and their guardians.
This innovative and commendable effort by the Education Department to make education accessible to all students through "Schools On Boat" has the potential to revolutionize education accessibility for students residing in the remote islands of Dumboor Reservoir. It ensures that no child is left behind in their pursuit of knowledge and a brighter future.