Between Dropping Out and Starting Again

When school came to a stop

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Halima dropped out of school after completing Grade 7 following the loss of her mother. In the middle of grief and uncertainty, her education came to a sudden halt.

When Halima later tried to return to school, the prolonged gap in her education made her ineligible for formal school.

Where she comes from, and why it mattered

Halima comes from a remote rural community in Bihar. In such settings, access to education was shaped not just by availability, but by everyday realities at home and in the community. For many girls, schooling competed with household chores and long-held beliefs about when a girl’s education should end.

These realities formed the backdrop of Halima’s life. At home, encouragement was limited. While her brother and sister-in-law were present, they often discouraged her aspiration to continue her education. Her sister-in-law believed household chores mattered more than education.

Beyond her home, prevailing social norms posed an additional challenge. Attitudes around a girl’s marriageable age reinforced the idea that education could wait.

What it took to change minds

Educate Girls’ Prerak, Sabana Praveen, visited Halima’s home and spoke with her sister-in-law. The initial conversations did not lead to change. But Sabana and the Educate Girls team did not give up.

They organised a community meeting and invited parents of more girls like Halima and key stakeholders. The discussion focused on the importance of education, the opportunities available after Grade 10, and government schemes that support girls in continuing their education.

Slowly, perspectives began to shift.

Starting again

Over time, resistance gave way to consent. Halima’s brother agreed to let her attend the village learning camp and resume her education. That decision marked a turning point in her life.

Halima passed her Grade 10 examinations through open schooling with distinction and topped the Bihar State Open School. She is ready to continue her education with confidence and clarity about what lies ahead.

“I thank Educate Girls for supporting me and many other girls on this journey towards becoming self-reliant”, she said.