The Jharkhand Department of School Education and Literacy has launched a unique program called 'Prayas-Siti bajao, school bulao' (blow whistle, call students to school) in an attempt to bring back students who have been missing classes for more than a month.

A government school in Tangrain, about 45 kilometres away, in the Potka block of East Singhbhum district, implemented the government program 'Siti bajao, Upsthithi badao' (blow whistle, increase attendance) a few days ago, and the response was positive.

‘Blow whistle’ campaign launched recently in villages surrounding the school evoked a good response as students who were absent for almost a month have started attending school as soon as they hear the whistle sound, said Headmaster-in-Charge Arvind Tiwary of Tangrain Upgraded Middle School.

Given the positive response to the program, the education and literacy department decided to roll it out in all government schools across the state, and he directed the concerned authorities to post pictures of students blowing whistles on social media with the hashtag #seetibajao on January 11 as soon as students arrived at school in the morning, he said.

"We are targeting students who have missed classes continuously for about a month," Tiwary, who has previously implemented innovative ideas to motivate students to attend classes, told PTI.