3-day audit results reveal 5% absenteeism in 6,500 schools in Pune

The three-day audit, covering 6,500 schools in the district, that ended on Wednesday found around 5% absenteeism. Pune district collector Vikas Deshmukh made the announcement while speaking to the media on Wednesday.

“The final data would be available only by late night, but no gross irregularities were noticed during the audit,” he said, adding that the absence figure was higher in urban schools.

Till Tuesday, students from 4,887 schools were covered, which approximately translates to more than 7 lakh students. The massive exercise is being carried out across the state, after cases of schools inflating their student strength came to light in Nanded early last month.

Deshmukh, who had visited various parts of the district to oversee the operation said, “I noticed 15 students missing from a private ashram school in Daund. The school authorities claimed that the students were children of brick kiln workers, who migrated from place to place.”

He said that the final figures will be complied and the report would be sent to the state government by Friday.