Multiple states’ education dropout rates exceeding the national average arouse growing concerns

Secondary School Dropout Rate: According to official data from 2021-22, the secondary school dropout rate in a number of states exceeded the national average of 12.6%. Gujarat, Bihar, Karnataka, and Assam were among the seven states with the highest secondary school dropout rate. These findings were compiled from the Project Approval Board (PAB) meetings conducted by the Ministry of Education between March and May of this year to discuss the implementation of the “Samagra Shiksha” programme for 2023-24.

The government views dropout rates as an impediment to achieving the goals enumerated in the National Education Policy, specifically the goal of achieving a Gross Enrollment Rate (GER) of 100 percent at the school level by 2030. Specific state-level attrition rates are detailed in the meeting minutes of the PAB. In 2021-22, Bihar had a secondary school attrition rate of 20.46 percent, Gujarat 17.85 percent, Assam 20.3 percent, Andhra Pradesh 16.7 percent, Punjab 17.7 percent, Meghalaya 21.7 percent, and Karnataka 14.6%.

While West Bengal showed improvement in elementary attrition rates between 2020-21 and 2021-22, it was noted that continued efforts are required to reduce dropout rates and improve secondary school retention. One of the documents highlighted the large number of out-of-school children in Delhi and emphasised the need to upload the information of mainstreamed out-of-school children to the PRABANDH portal.

According to data, the secondary-level attrition rate in Madhya Pradesh will decrease from 23.8% in 2020-21 to 10.1% in 2021-22. The state’s special enrollment initiative and mobile app-assisted targeted household survey contributed to this improvement. Similarly, Maharashtra witnessed a decline in the average annual secondary school attrition rate from 11.2% in 2020-2021 to 10.7% in 2021-2022. Nonetheless, certain districts in the state reported attrition rates of 15% or higher.

Several districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Basti (23.3%), Budaun (19.1%), Etawah (16.9%), Ghazipur (16.6%), Etah (16.2%), Mahoba (15.6%), Hardoi (15.6%), and Azamgarh (15%), experienced a “very high” annual average dropout rate, according to the compiled data. According to the documents, the dropout rate at the secondary level among scheduled tribes (nine percent) and Muslim children (eighteen percent) remained substantially high in Rajasthan.

According to a study conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) the year prior, 33% of Indian girls drop out of school due to domestic labour. In addition, it was observed that many children who drop out of school end up working as family labourers or performing domestic cleaning duties. It is essential to address these disengagement issues in order to ensure inclusive and high-quality education for all children in the country.