Schools have been asked to counsel them to take admission directly in Class X through the NIOS Project of the Directorate of Education. (Express Photo)Identify students who have failed Class IX twice or thrice and counsel them and their parents to ensure that they continue schooling: this is what the Directorate of Education (DoE) has directed the heads of the government schools in the Capital as the number of students dropping out of schools after Class IX continues to be a major concern.The latest direction was issued through a circular, dated June 4, by the NIOS Project of the Education Directorate. The circular was issued after the declaration of Class IX compartment examination results. “There is an urgent need to identify, counsel and guide the students who have failed twice or thrice in Class IX,” it said. An “absence of proper guidance and motivation” has been flagged by DOE officials to be causing a “risk of discontinuing” their education. The department’s direction also points to special attention for parents as it states they require “motivation, counselling and assurance that the school will continue to support the child”.The department has described the exercise as a dropout-prevention measure and underlined that the initiative by heads of schools can help “save many innocent students” and that the “ultimate goal” is to ensure that all children complete at least their school education.Over the last five academic years, 3,20,150 students failed Class IX across the government schools in the city while 71,124 were admitted to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), according to the records of the Education Department. This means only about 22% of Class IX students who failed moved to NIOS — an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education that provides academic, vocational, life enrichment and community-oriented courses at the secondary and senior secondary levels.The first instruction to schools is to retain the students in regular schooling. School heads have been asked to counsel students and parents on the importance of completing schooling and to “motivate and encourage them to continue their education in their regular school itself”. Regular school is seen as the first option and students should first be encouraged to continue in the regular school system, the directions noted.NIOS has been positioned as the alternative route where the student or parent is unwilling to continue in regular school and seeks a ‘school leaving certificate’. In such cases, schools have been asked to counsel them to take admission directly in Class X through the NIOS Project of the Directorate of Education.According to DOE officials, “This would allow students to continue their education through NIOS Board, which is a government body, at their own pace and in subjects of their choice and can help in saving a precious year of a student’s academic life”. Schools have also been asked to tell parents that under the NIOS scheme, “tough subjects like Maths are Not Compulsory” and students can opt for “lighter subjects of their choice.”Story continues below this adAll heads of government schools have been asked to procure a list of students who have failed Class IX more than once. They have also been directed to personally call such students to school as per the convenience of their parents.A key assurance to parents is that students passing Class X through the NIOS Project will be eligible to return to their parent school for Class XI. The order says parents should be convinced that “after passing class Tenth through NIOS Project, the students are eligible to be enrolled in their Parent School for Class XI”.Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Professional Background Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education. Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses: 1. The Air Pollution Crisis "A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure. "Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR. "Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter. 2. Enforcement & Regulations "No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy. 3. Education Policy "Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. "Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation. Signature Style Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws. X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:delhi