Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday, 11 July underscored the critical role of girl education in societal progress, addressing re-enrolled students, parents, and mentors at Teniwada village in Banaskantha district under the state's 'Back to School Mission'. The Chief Minister urged every parent to ensure their children attend school regularly, stressing that an educated girl is the cornerstone of a developed society.

What the Chief Minister Said

'Our daughters are capable of performing well in education while also discharging household responsibilities. For the overall development of society, it is extremely important that girls are educated,' Patel said during his address.

He appealed to parents to actively support their children's schooling, calling it the fundamental duty of every mother and father to secure a brighter future for their children. Patel also reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's long-standing vision is that no child — in Gujarat or anywhere in the country — should be denied access to education.

Roots in Earlier Initiatives

Patel credited people-centric programmes such as Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav — launched during Modi's tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister — with building sustained public awareness around the value of schooling. He noted that teachers today play a dual role: classroom instruction and active outreach to identify and re-enrol dropouts, bringing them back into the mainstream education system.

Calling education the most powerful tool for holistic development, Patel said children from poor and ordinary families could use it to overcome both economic and social barriers. 'While governments provide welfare measures such as food security, healthcare and other assistance, their full benefits would be realised only if children were educated and able to build better futures,' he added.

Student and Parent Voices

The Chief Minister interacted with around 12 students who had returned to school, along with their parents and mentors, asking about their reasons for dropping out, their re-enrolment experiences, and their aspirations.

One beneficiary, Suhani, shared that she had discontinued her studies in Class 10 out of fear of board examinations. Her teachers later visited her home, counselled her parents, and persuaded her to return. 'I appeared for the board examination again and passed. I have now taken admission in Class 11. The Chief Minister spoke to me today. I felt very happy, and from now onwards I will attend school regularly,' she said.

Another parent, Maniben, recounted how financial and personal hardships had forced her to withdraw both daughters from school. Village teachers explained the government's initiative and persuaded the family to re-enrol the girls, she said.

Back to School Mission: Key Numbers

The Back to School Mission targets children who discontinued education during academic years 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26. An extensive survey in Banaskantha alone identified 37,415 school dropouts. Of these, 29,451 have been successfully re-enrolled — comprising 14,875 boys and 14,576 girls.

Among the re-enrolled students, 23,032 have been linked to the Gujarat State Open School (GSOS), while 6,368 have returned to regular schools. The mission is being implemented through coordinated efforts of the district administration, education department, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, teachers, and taluka-level officials.

What Comes Next

With Banaskantha's re-enrolment drive showing measurable results, the state government is expected to scale the mission's outreach model to other districts with high dropout rates. The sustained involvement of teachers as community counsellors — not just classroom instructors — appears to be the programme's most replicable feature.