Jajpur: ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’, a Centre-sponsored programme aimed at popularising education has failed to check the dropout rate in schools of Jajpur district, according to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) Plus report published by the state School and Mass Education department. The report states that the dropout of students increases from Class III onwards in this district. The report states that in the academic year 2021-22, there were 31,836 students studying in Class II of various schools in this district. However, in the academic year 2022-23, 202 students stopped attending classes.
The report also points out with concern the dropout rate after Class X. It states that out of the 28,204 students in Class X during the academic year 2021-22, a total of 21,625 students have enrolled for Plus II in 2022-23. It means that 6,579 students have decided not to pursue higher education. Financial reasons are mostly attributed to the dropout rate. Most of the dropouts start working to earn money and support their families. They start doing odd jobs on farmlands, in hotels, and in garages. Experts have pointed out that unless the real reason behind the dropout malady is ascertained, children cannot be brought back to school. The UDISE Plus report states that 1,563 students have dropped out of schools after Class X in the industrially rich Danagadi block in this district.
Similarly, the dropout rate in Dharmasala block stands at an alarming 1,197 students while 865 in the mining-rich Sukinda block have decided not to pursue higher education. Stats in the report show that dropouts occur in all classes with the numbers increasing as the students grow old. It states that 1,371 students stopped attending schools after Class VIII and the number rose to 2,207 after Class IX in 10 blocks of this district.
However, observers pointed out that the numbers are much more than reported. They informed that in many schools students get enrolled, but do not attend classes as they prefer doing menial jobs. As most of these students come from poor families, it is a luxury for them to attend school. “Unless the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan addresses the issue of poverty, students will stay away from schools,” some experts opined. Lack of teachers is another major reason for students dropping out. In some schools, there is only a single teacher and in some, there aren’t any at all. The absence of proper roads and transport facilities are other reasons why students prefer to stay away from schools, said sources in this district.
The Odisha government has spent Rs 168.64 crore under the 5T initiative for transformation of 249 schools in the district and the renovation of 97 more is underway in the second phase. However, even then dropout rate is rampant. District education officer Nibedita Pani has asked all the block education officers to stress the UDISE Plus report and ensure that names of fake students are not uploaded in the portal.
