GUWAHATI: The Assam government has launched the Second Chance Education (SCE) initiative to help out-of-school adolescents and young adults, especially girls and young women, complete their education and build better career opportunities.
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The programme was officially launched in Morigaon on July 9 through a district-level consultation organised by the Morigaon District Administration. It is being implemented jointly by the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM), the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, Samagra Shiksha Assam and Educate Girls.
Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the programme will allow learners to complete their secondary and senior secondary education through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) or the Assam State Open School (ASOS). After completing their studies, participants will be connected to skill development programmes and livelihood opportunities.
The initiative is being piloted in five districts—Biswanath, Dhubri, Karbi Anglong, Morigaon and Nagaon.
Officials said the programme addresses a major challenge in Morigaon, where the secondary school dropout rate among girls stands at 24.32%. In addition, 39.1% of women in the district are married before the age of 18, a key reason many are forced to leave school.
District data also shows that more than 24,000 women aged 18 to 30 are part of Self-Help Groups, with nearly 63% yet to complete secondary education. Another 471 out-of-school children have been identified through the Samagra Shiksha Assam Survey 2026–27.
Under the initiative, ASRLM and the WCD Department will lead awareness campaigns and identify eligible learners. Samagra Shiksha Assam, NIOS, ASOS and the Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM) will support enrolment, academic assistance and vocational training.
Speaking at the launch, Morigaon District Commissioner Anamika Tewari said the programme provides a valuable opportunity for out-of-school youth, particularly girls and young women, to complete their education and move towards skill development and sustainable livelihoods.
The launch also marks the start of a district-wide enrolment drive. Self-Help Groups, Village Organisations and local communities will help identify eligible youth and encourage them to enrol in the current NIOS and ASOS admission cycle. The district administration will prepare a detailed action plan to ensure learners receive support from education through to employment.