Rudrapur, Dec. 16 -- In a bid to curb absenteeism and ensure compliance with government norms, teachers in primary and junior high schools across Udham Singh Nagar district have been directed to contact the guardians of students who skip school for two days in a week, officials said. The move comes amid concerns over a dip in student attendance during the winter season. Education officials said the initiative is aimed at maintaining the mandatory minimum attendance of 75% in schools, as prescribed by the government. "Attendance in primary and junior schools generally declines during winter. The government has issued clear instructions that attendance should not fall below 75%. Accordingly, we have written to concerned officials to ensure the required attendance during the winter months," said Harendra Mishra, district education officer (basic), Udham Singh Nagar. To be noted, the district has 786 primary schools and around 200 junior high schools. Mishra said letters have been sent to block education officers (BEOs), instructing them to direct teachers to contact guardians if a student remains absent for two days in a week on a regular basis. "Teachers will contact the guardians over the phone to understand the reason behind the absence. If there are issues related to studies or school, efforts will be made to resolve them," he said. He added that the aim of the exercise is preventive and corrective rather than punitive. "There is no significant drop in attendance at present, but the department is keeping a close watch on the situation to ensure that minimum attendance norms are met," Mishra said....