Despite recent school admission drives across 21 schools in Gujarat, the state continues to grapple with high student dropout rates, particularly in secondary education. Official figures released by the state’s Education Department reveal a concerning dropout rate of 23.28% among students in Class 9 and 10. This figure underscores the need for targeted initiatives to enhance student engagement and academic performance.
According to the Education Department’s data, dropout rates across other year groups remain comparatively lower. For Class 1 to 5, the dropout rate stands at 1.17%, while Class 6 to 8 record a rate of 2.68%. In Class 11 to 12, the dropout rate is 6.19%. The highest rate among Year 9-10 students was recorded in Botad district, reaching 35.45%, while Rajkot Municipality reported the lowest rate at 8.53%.
The Education Department has acknowledged these challenges, particularly at the secondary and higher secondary levels, and has issued a circular to district officials. The directive mandates a survey to identify and address the educational needs of children who have left school, including those involved in street activities or begging. A district-level nodal officer is to be appointed by 15 February 2022 to oversee this initiative, with a preliminary survey to be completed by 31 November.
The data reveals a notable trend: the dropout rate among boys is higher than that of girls, particularly after Year 8. For Class 9 and 10, boys show a dropout rate of 24.97%, compared to 21.24% for girls. Similarly, in Class 11 and 12, 7.06% of boys leave school, compared to 5.13% of girls.
Ahmedabad district reports particularly high figures, with over one lakh children either untraceable or having dropped out. In Ahmedabad district, dropout rates are as follows: 1.06% for Class 1 to 5, 1.34% for Class 6 to 8, a sharp 22.44% for Class 9 and 10 and 6.25% for Class 11 and 12. Within Ahmedabad Municipality, the dropout rates are 0.75% for Class 1 to 5, 3.04% for Class 6 to 8, 18.68% for Class 9 and 10, and 2.73% for Class 11 and 12.
The state also faces a significant challenge with untraceable children. Across Gujarat, there are 7.58 lakh children aged 6 to 19 who have either dropped out or are untraceable. Of these, 2,35,127 children are in the 6-14 age group, and 3,82,667 are between 15 and 19 years old. The Education Department has launched a survey campaign aimed at reintegrating these children into mainstream education.
“It’s deeply concerning that Gujarat ranks third in the country for school dropouts,” said Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi. “The claims of the Education Department and the 21 school’s admissions drive have been exposed, as nearly one lakh children in Ahmedabad remain untraceable. Promises of expanded education coverage are proving hollow while crores are spent on a command and control system. Meanwhile, responsibilities of academic review officers remain unclear, child labour is rising as families struggle with poverty, and there’s a shortage of secondary schools and even locked primary schools in taluka centres. With a lack of teachers, children simply aren’t coming to school.”
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