NEP-2020: School dropout rates cut a sorry figure in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: NEP-2020 (National Education Policy-2020) began in Assam at a time when the school dropout rates of the state were much higher than the national averages on many indices. The school dropout rates in the state are also much higher than those of many other states in the Northeast.

These facts came to light in the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report for 2021–22. According to the report, the school dropout rate at the lower primary stage in Assam is 6 percent compared to 1.5 percent at the national level; the dropout rate at the upper primary stage is 8.8 percent compared to 3 percent at the national level; and the dropout rate at the secondary level is 20.3 percent compared to 12.6 percent at the national level. Significantly, the dropout rates of boys in the state at the lower and upper primary stages are higher than those of girls. In lower primary, the dropout rate for boys is 6.8 percent compared to 5.2 percent for girls. The dropout rate of boys at the upper primary stage in the state is 10.1 percent compared to 7.6 percent for girls. At the secondary level, the dropout rate for boys in the state is 19.8 percent compared to 20.7 percent for girls.

School dropout rates in Assam are much higher than those in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

Speaking to The Sentinel, an official of the Department of School Education of the state said, The school dropout rate at the secondary level in the state was 31 percent in 2020–21, and in 2021–22, the dropout rate has been reduced to 20.3 percent. However, at the lower primary level, the dropout rate rose from 3.3 percent in 2020–21 to 6 percent in 2021–22. At the upper primary stage, the dropout rate was 4.6 percent in 2020–21, and it rose to 8.8 percent in 2021–22. The impact of COVID-19 had much to do with the rise in school dropout rates in the state, besides ghost students. We are now collecting daily data from all schools through a portal, Shiksha Setu Axom, that prevents fake enrollment of students.”

Will the department be able to lower the dropout rates under NEP-2020? This is something to keep tabs on.

Also Read:  NEP 2020: Elevating India’s educational landscape

Also Watch: