Nearly 150 out-of-school children identified in Ezhil Nagar; gaps in schooling, counselling and support remain

An assessment by the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC) has identified 148 out-of-school children in Ezhil Nagar — a resettlement site near Kannagi Nagar — nearly half of whom have remained out of school for one to three years.IRCDUC began working with children and families in the settlement in June 2024. It identified 99 out-of-school children in March 2025. By September 2026, the number had risen to 148, comprising 81 boys and 67 girls. The organisation attributed educational exclusion to multiple factors, including lack of essential documents, learning difficulties, distance from schools, inadequate availability of higher secondary schools, and substance dependency within families, a report compiled by IRCDUC notes. Adolescents accounted for the bulk of those identified. As many as 110 children (74.3%) were aged between 11 and 18. Of these, 60 were in the 16-18 age group, while 50 were aged 11-15.The assessment also found that educational exclusion was often prolonged. Information on the duration of absence was available for 122 children. Of these, 71 had been out of school for one to three years, while another 11 had been out of school for three years or more.IRCDUC said its interventions included helping children re-enter school, facilitating access to documents, and following up with schools and government departments. However, gaps remain. A proposal to upgrade the Ezhil Nagar middle school to higher secondary is pending, while bridge-school arrangements and dedicated counselling support remain inadequate, the report said.The current status assessment found that 23 children were enrolled in school regularly, while 15 were enrolled but attending irregularly. Ten children had returned to school but were out of school again and were under follow-up. Another 37 were recorded as not interested in returning to school.The assessment also recorded vulnerabilities, including tobacco use or dependency, single-parent households, family disputes, and substance use or dependency involving drugs or alcohol.Founder of IRCDUC Vanessa Peter said that simply enrolling children in school without addressing their underlying vulnerabilities would not tackle the root causes and could result in them dropping out again. “Constant follow-ups and re-enrolment are needed. There should also be a community-based rehabilitation policy for children,” she said.Meanwhile, a field study by postgraduate students at the Madras School of Social Work identified 19 out-of-school children and youth in Blocks 1 to 8 of Ezhil Nagar in Thoraipakkam.The survey found that lack of interest in studies was the most frequently reported reason for discontinuing education, accounting for eight cases. Family-related issues accounted for six cases, while three children had dropped out after failing in Class 10 and subsequently losing interest in studies. Documentation problems and lack of specialised educational support accounted for one case each.The students said the survey highlighted that educational discontinuation was linked to multiple factors, including academic difficulties, family circumstances, documentation gaps, and inadequate educational support. Published - October 02, 2026 07:21 pm IST