DROP-OUTS A CONCERN

Level of education Primary

Upper primary

Secondary

Higher secondary

Higher education Primary + upper primary

Secondary + higher secondary

Gross enrolment ratio 23.2

A fall in GER from primary to higher levels of schooling means that students drop out. Nationally, 10% of students enrolled in primary school had dropped out, the survey found. A drop-out is defined as a person who did not complete the last level of education the person was enrolled in (for any reason other than completion of the desired level of education). The drop-out rate increases to 17.5% in upper-primary/middle school and to 19.8% in secondary school. This means nearly every fifth student was dropping out of secondary school in India.

Among big states, the overall dropout rate from education institutions is the highest in West Bengal, 23.5%. Odisha, Assam, and Gujarat also have high dropout rates.

Why do Indian students drop out? Financial constraints and engagement in economic and domestic activities were the leading reasons cited. Only 18.8% of men and 14.8% of women were not attending schools 101.6 95.2

87.5 69.2

99.2 78.8

INDIA NEEDS TO BE CAUTIOUS IN STOPPING ENROLMENT RATES FROM FALLING, WHICH MAINLY HAPPENS DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS

because of not being interested in education. As many as 61.2% of men cited financial constraints or engagement in economic activities as the reason for not attending schools while 47.9% of women blamed financial constraints or engagement in domestic activities.

As India struggles to recover from the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, it would be a challenge to get people to prioritise education in times of financial difficulties and a need to engage in economic activities.

In case there is a drop in school enrolment or an increase in the number of students dropping out, it would not only mean that India will suffer in terms of upward mobility in education, but also in terms of health. This is because India has a free midday meal scheme for school-going children.

The NSO survey found that in government schools, nearly 97% of students attending primary level, nearly 87% attending upper-primary/middle level, and nearly 26% attending secondary level were receiving free mid-day meals.

A majority of India’s students study in government schools – 74% of all primary school students, 76% of upper-primary/ middle students and 68% of secondary and higher secondary level students.