As per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE+), the dropout rate of students of all category of schools in Jammu and Kashmir from 2017-18 to 2020-21 has been 17.82, 16.68 and 3.69 respectively, according to the information shared by the government in the parliament currently in its monsoon session.
A UN report had highlighted that with parental incomes under strain due to covid-19 pandemic, there could be an increase in drop-out rates.
The J&K government must continue to carry out an extensive assessment of the learning loss and well-thought-out plans to bridge the learning gap, and implement various schemes in true spirit to ensure there are only a few dropouts.
Beyond doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the learning of students from pre-school to grade 12 across the globe. In order to prevent dropouts, lower enrolments and loss of learning, the Ministry of Education, government of India, issued guidelines for identification, smooth admission process and continued education of migrant children, inter-alia, requesting the local governments to identify and enroll all such pupils without any procedural formalities and maintain a database of children so admitted. Further, to ensure that children have access to education with quality and equity and to minimize the impact of the pandemic on school education in the country, the Ministry shared guidelines dated 7th January, 2021 with all States which, among others, include identification of out of school children from age 6-18 years, enrolment drives and awareness generation, student support while schools are closed, continued Education for children with Special Needs (CWSN), student support on school reopening and Teacher capacity building.
Under the Samagra Shiksha, financial assistance is provided to all the States and UTs for undertaking various activities to reduce number of dropouts, which include opening/strengthening of new schools upto senior secondary level, construction of school buildings & additional classrooms, setting up, up-gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, setting up of residential schools/hostels named Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, free uniforms, free textbooks, transport allowance and undertaking enrolment & retention drives.
Evidence has shown that continued engagement with educational activities reduces drop-outs in a statistically significant way. The government of J&K must ensure that it continues to promote these activities. The government should also encourage parents to send their children back to school and convey the importance of education in overall growth and as such teachers must provide data to the concerned authorities.