Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addressed concerns regarding dropout rates among Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) girl students in rural Uttar Pradesh. The Ministry uses the UDISE system to monitor learning outcomes and track dropouts and implements the Samagra Shiksha scheme to promote equitable and inclusive education. State-level initiatives, like "School Chalo Abhiyan," and parent-teacher meetings, also aim to reduce dropout rates.
Key Points / Main Content:
Data Collection and Monitoring:
* The Department of School Education and Literacy uses the UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education) to collect school data, monitor learning outcomes, and track dropouts, starting from 2018-2019. The UDISE 2023-2024 report is publicly available.
Central Government Initiatives:
* Samagra Shiksha: A centrally sponsored scheme aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, promoting equitable and inclusive education from pre-primary to Class XII, addressing diverse backgrounds and abilities.
* Samagra Shiksha focuses on reducing dropout rates and the number of Out of School Children (OoSC).
* Provisions under Samagra Shiksha include opening/strengthening schools, constructing infrastructure (buildings, classrooms, toilets), establishing Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) up to class 12, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas and hostels under PMJANMAN and DAJGUA, and providing free uniforms, textbooks, and transport allowance.
* PM POSHAN Scheme: Provides one hot cooked meal to all students (including SC/ST) in Bal Vatika and Classes I-VIII in government and government-aided schools.
* Financial Support: Provides up to Rs 2000 per child per grade for SC, ST, and disabled out-of-school children aged 16-19 to complete secondary/senior secondary levels through NIOS/NIOS.
* National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme: Awards scholarships to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to prevent dropout at class VIII.
State Government Initiatives (Uttar Pradesh):
* "School Chalo Abhiyan": Aims to ensure 100% enrollment of children.
* Parent-Teacher Meetings: Regularly organized to address dropout concerns and improve attendance.
* Block Level Orientation Programs: Conducted to sensitize local authorities and School Management Committees (SMCs) to promote enrollment and continued education.
Reasons for Dropout (as per NSS 75th Round, MoSPI):
* Supplementing household income.
* Attending to domestic chores.
* Lack of interest in studies.
* Inability to cope with studies.
* Child suffering from disability or poor health.
* Education not considered necessary by parents.
* Preparation for competitive exams.
* Marriage.
Impact Analysis:
Students (Specifically SC/ST Girls):
* Impact: Benefit from schemes aimed at improving retention, financial assistance, safe transportation, menstrual hygiene facilities, and overall access to quality education. The initiatives aim to reduce dropout rates and improve educational outcomes.
* Action Required: Students should avail themselves of the available schemes and facilities to continue their education.
Schools and Educators:
* Impact: Schools are responsible for implementing the Samagra Shiksha scheme and other related initiatives. Educators need to be aware of the reasons for dropout and implement strategies to retain students.
* Action Required: Implement Samagra Shiksha effectively, participate in School Chalo Abhiyan, conduct regular parent-teacher meetings, and work to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
State Government (Uttar Pradesh):
* Impact: The State Government is responsible for implementing and monitoring educational schemes and initiatives to reduce dropout rates and improve enrollment.
* Action Required: Continue implementing initiatives like "School Chalo Abhiyan," conduct parent-teacher meetings, and sensitize local authorities to promote enrollment and continued education.
Ministry of Education:
* Impact: Responsible for centrally sponsored schemes and monitoring the overall progress of education, including dropout rates and learning outcomes.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring dropout rates through UDISE, providing support through Samagra Shiksha, and evaluating the impact of various schemes.
Parents and Communities:
* Impact: Their awareness and involvement are crucial for ensuring children's enrollment and continued education.
* Action Required: Participate in parent-teacher meetings, understand the importance of education, and support their children's education.
Key Entities Referenced
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of dropout rates among SC/ST girls.
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SCST): Refers to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which are officially designated groups of disadvantaged people in India.
Samagra Shiksha: An integrated centrally sponsored scheme for school education in India, aimed at providing quality education.
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A national policy in India that provides a framework for education from primary to higher education.
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas KGBV: Residential schools for girls from disadvantaged communities in India, up to class 12.
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan PMJANMAN: A program initiative of Government of India.
PM POSHAN Scheme: A scheme to provide hot cooked meals to students in government and government-aided schools.
National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme: A scholarship program in India for meritorious students from economically weaker sections.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4027
ANSWERED ON- 18/08/2025
Dropout Rates among SC/ST Girls in Rural Uttar Pradesh
4027. Adv Priya Saroj:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the annual dropout rates for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe girl students at primary,
secondary, and higher secondary levels in Uttar Pradesh, specifically for Jaunpur district during
the last five academic years;
(b) the details of schemes and interventions specifically aimed at improving retention and
ensuring continuity of education for SC/ST girl students including financial assistance, provision
of safe transportation and menstrual hygiene facilities;
(c) whether lack of access, child labour or absence of girl-specific support programmes are
key contributors to the dropout; and
(d) the outcomes and impact assessment reports based on verifiable data of these schemes
in reducing the dropout rates of SC/ST girl students in educationally backward blocks in Uttar
Pradesh?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d) The Department of School Education and Literacy developed a Management
Information System, UDISE starting from the reference year 2018-2019, for school data
collection mechanism and to monitor learning outcome and track drop–out students. The
UDISE+ 2023-2024 report is available in public domain and the same may be accessed at
https://udiseplus.gov.in/#/en/page/publications
Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are under
the domain of respective State and UT Governments. The Department of School Education
and Literacy is implementing an integrated centrally sponsored scheme for School
education- Samagra Shiksha. The Scheme is aligned with the recommendations of the
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to ensure that all children have access to
quality education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment which should take
care of their diverse background, multilingual needs, different academic abilities and makethem active participants in the learning process. The scheme treats school education
holistically, in a continuum from pre-primary to class XII and provides support for the
implementation of the RTE Act.
One of the focus areas of the Samagra Shiksha is to reduce the dropout rate and the number of
Out of School Children (OoSC). The scheme includes the provision of opening and
strengthening of new schools up to senior secondary level; construction of school buildings and
additional classrooms; construction of toilets; sanitation facilities and drinking water for
students, setting up and up gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas
(KGBV) upto class 12, setting up of residential schools/hostels named Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, hostels under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan
(PM-JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), free uniforms,
free text books, transport allowance and undertaking enrolment & retention drives.
Under the PM POSHAN Scheme, one hot cooked meal is served to all students including
SC/ST studying in Bal Vatika and Classes I-VIII in Government and Government aided
Schools on all school working days.
In addition, support is provided through special training for age-appropriate admission of Out
of School Children and for the training of residential as well as non-residential older children.
The provision of seasonal hostels or residential camps, special training centres at worksites,
and to safeguard the health and dignity of girls, Samagra Shiksha has provision of equipping
schools with sanitary napkins, vending machines and incinerators, and ensuring access to
sanitary products and a safe disposal mechanism.
For out of school children at 16 to 19 years of age, support is provided to SC, ST, disabled
children, upto Rs 2000 per child per grade to complete their secondary/senior secondary levels
through NIOS/SIOS.
Similarly, under National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme, scholarship is awarded to
meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and
encourage them to continue the study at secondary stage.
As informed by the State of Uttar Pradesh, to reduce dropout rate, the State
Government has implemented a comprehensive approach focused on enrollment, awareness,
and community participation. “School Chalo Abhiyan" is organized to ensure 100% enrollment
of children across the state. To further improve student retention, Parent-Teacher Meetings are
regularly organized to address dropout concerns and enhance attendance. Additionally, Block-
level Orientation Programs are conducted to sensitize local authorities and SMCs, fostering
greater awareness and responsibility in ensuring children's enrollment and continued education.
These initiatives collectively aim to strengthen the education system and reduce dropout rates
effectively.
As per NSS (75th Round), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the
major reasons for drop-out of school children are to supplement household income, to attend
domestic chores, not interested in studies, unable to cope up with studies, child suffering with
some disability, poor health, education not considered necessary by the parents, preparation of
competitive examination, marriage etc.
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