Lok Sabha Question No. 2428 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: Dropout Rate in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, SUSHMITA DEV, M. K. RAGHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2428 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST  JULY, 2017

## Dropout Rate in Schools

2428. SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV: SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government has drawn up any schemes to check dropout rate at primary levels and to achieve the target in Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE) in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that more than eight percent of children are still dropping out of primary  schools  in  the  country  and  the  State  Government's  efforts  to  check  such dropouts are not found satisfactory; and
- (d) if so, the details of the Union Government's schemes and plans to check dropout rate  at  primary  levels  and  problems  like  quality  of  education,  girls  education  and teachers absenteeism?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a)  &  (b):  The  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA)  is  implemented  as  a  Centrally Sponsored Scheme in partnership of State Governments and UT Administrations for universalization  of  elementary  education  across  the  country  and  to  meet  the objective of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 which is the legal framework that entitles all children between the age group of 6 to 14 years free and compulsory admission, attendance and completion of elementary education. In order to ensure schooling facility in each and every habitation, so far sanctioned 2.06 lakh primary schools have been sanctioned under SSA.

Section  4  of  the  RTE  Act,  2009  provides  for  special  training  for  age  appropriate admission  of  out  of  school  children.  Those  children  who  have  missed  out  certain academic years either because they were never enrolled in school or  dropped out of school,  have  a  right  to  special  training  in  residential  and  non  residential  mode, subsequently to be mainstreamed in formal schools in age appropriate class.

(c):  As  per  Unified  District  Information  System  for  Education  data,  the  average annual  dropout  rate  of  children  at  primary  level  is  4.13%  in  2014-15.  This  has gradually reduced from 4.67% in 2012-13 and 4.34% in 2013-14. (d): The steps taken by the Government to reduce the dropout rate include inter-alia, strengthening  of  school  infrastructure  and  facilities,  residential  hostel  buildings  for children  in  habitations  not  covered  by  regular  schools,  provisioning  for  additional teachers, regular training of teachers and provision for free text books and uniforms to children. The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme provides for setting up of residential upper primary schools for girls from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Class and Minority communities. The Mid Day Meal Scheme is also being  implemented  with  a  view  to  enhance  enrolment  and  retention  of  children  in schools. In  order  to  focus  on  quality  education,  the  Learning  Outcomes  for  each  class  in Languages (Hindi, English and Urdu), Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Science and Social Science up to the elementary stage have been finalized and shared with all States and UTs. These would serve as a guideline for States and UTs to ensure that all children acquire appropriate learning level. Besides, under the SSA, the State Governments  and  UT  Administrations  are  supported  on  several  interventions  to improve teaching standards, including regular in-service teachers' training, recruitment  of  additional  teachers  for  improving  pupil-teacher  ratio,  academic support for teachers through block and cluster resource centres,  school grants for development of appropriate teaching-learning materials, etc. On the issue of teachers' absenteeism, the Central Government has conducted two studies of teachers' attendance in 2006 and 2013. According to these two studies, the overall attendance of teachers improved from 81.7% to 84.3% at primary level and  from  80.5%  to  81.3%  at  upper  primary  level.  The  steps  taken  by  the  Central Government to improve teachers' attendance include, inter-alia, monitoring teachers' Management Development  Committees/  Block  Resource  Centres/Cluster  Resource  Centres. Further,  the  States  like  Tamil  Nadu,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Gujarat,  Odisha,  Madhya Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand  and  Himachal  Pradesh  have  initiated  biometric attendance through School Management Committee/School attendance on pilot basis.

*******