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Approximately 73% of students drop out of school before completing their Class 12 education. According to the report, the number of schools at the secondary and higher secondary levels is lower compared to the primary level.

School Dropout Report: Despite rising educational standards in the country, a significant and continuous decline in the number of schools and students is being observed. A parliamentary committee report reveals that about 73 percent of students drop out before finishing Class 12. The report also highlights that the number of schools at the secondary and higher secondary levels is considerably lower than at the primary level.

Expressing concern over this situation, the committee has emphasized the need to increase the number of secondary and higher secondary schools and to upgrade existing ones. This information regarding school dropouts was presented in the 10th report of the Estimates Committee (18th Lok Sabha).

What do the dropout statistics say?

The parliamentary committee’s report reveals a significant disparity in student enrollment. According to UDISE 2024-25 data, 61,845,033 students are enrolled in primary classes. Meanwhile, the number of students in classes 6 to 8 stands at 40,893,978. At the secondary level, this figure drops to 23,668,220, and at the higher secondary level, only 16,417,949 students remain. Based on these figures, the committee stated that approximately 73 percent of students drop out before completing their higher secondary education.

Decline in the number of schools beyond the primary level

Citing UDISE 2024-25 data, the committee noted that there are a total of 1,092,671 government and government-aided schools in the country. Of these, 911,032 schools are at the primary level. There are 412,805 schools at the upper primary level (Classes 6 to 8). This figure drops to 161,808 at the secondary level, while there are only 90,866 schools at the higher secondary level nationwide. In other words, a significant disparity in the number of schools becomes evident as the level of education advances. The committee noted that such a drastic decline in the number of schools at higher levels of education is a cause for concern. According to the committee, the vast majority of government schools are at the primary level.

Recommendation to Increase Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools

The parliamentary committee has recommended that the Ministry of Education prioritize increasing the number of schools at the secondary and higher secondary levels. The committee suggests focusing on upgrading existing primary and secondary schools into full-fledged higher secondary schools. This would enable students from diverse regions and communities to access higher-level education locally and could help reduce dropout rates. The committee also pointed out that education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, with most schools under the jurisdiction of state governments and Union Territory administrations. Therefore, the Ministry of Education should collaborate with states and Union Territories to work towards increasing the number of secondary and higher secondary schools.

Lack of Facilities for Differently-Abled Students

The report also expresses concern regarding the facilities available in schools for differently-abled students. The committee stated that more than half of the country’s schools lack the necessary infrastructure to accommodate differently-abled students. According to UDISE 2024-25 data, out of a total of 1,471,437 schools in the country, only 533,143 have toilets for Children with Special Needs (CWSN). Meanwhile, only 808,466 schools have ramps equipped with handrails. The committee observed that these figures indicate that more than half of the schools in the country still lack infrastructure suitable for differently-abled students.