Education Crisis in Assam: High Dropout Rates Exposed
Education is crucial for balanced social and fiscal development, yet recent data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE+) reveals a concerning trend in Assam. The state’s school dropout rates are significantly higher than the national averages, posing a severe challenge to its educational progress.
High Dropout Rates in Primary and Upper Primary Levels
According to UDISE+ data, the average annual dropout rate in lower primary (LP) schools in Assam stood at 6.02 percent, while the upper primary level saw an even higher rate of 8.82 percent in 2021-22. These figures starkly contrast with the national dropout rates of 1.45 percent for lower primary and 3.02 percent for upper primary stages. The information was disclosed in Parliament in response to a question by Assam Congress Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi.
Comparative Analysis: Assam vs. National Dropout Rates
A deeper analysis of the UDISE data highlights the alarming disparity. The school dropout rate at the lower primary stage in Assam is over 6 percent compared to 1.45 percent nationally. For the upper primary stage, Assam’s dropout rate is 8.8 percent against the national average of 3.02 percent. At the secondary level, the situation is even more dire, with a dropout rate of 20.25 percent in Assam compared to the national rate of 12.6 percent.
Rising Dropout Rates Over the Years
The dropout rates have been rising steadily in Assam. The LP school dropout rate was 6.02 percent in 2021-22, up from 4.3 percent in 2019-20 and 3.1 percent in 2018-19. This upward trend indicates a growing crisis in the state’s educational system.
Decline in School Performance and Student Grades
In addition to high dropout rates, the performance of Assam’s state government-run schools has also seen a decline. Earlier in May 2024, the education department reported a decrease in the number of schools and students obtaining grades during an evaluation exercise compared to the previous year.
Gunotsav 2024: Assessment Results
The government announced the results of ‘Gunotsav 2024,’ a statewide assessment conducted from January 3 to February 8 to evaluate the performance of 38,97,323 students enrolled in 43,491 schools. Schools with an enrollment of less than 30 students were excluded from the grading calculation.
Grading Statistics
According to the report, 32,421 schools received grades this year compared to 41,507 in 2023, a drop of 3.78 percent. Out of these, 11,592 schools got A+ grades, 14,933 received A, 4,603 got B, 1,032 got C, and 261 got D. In the previous year, 12,047, 19,085, 7,673, 1,948, and 754 schools were marked with A+, A, B, C, and D grades, respectively.
Student Performance Decline
The number of students receiving grades also fell from 41,35,163 in 2023 to 38,97,323 in 2024, a decrease of 5.75 percent. In 2024, a total of 16,12,184 students received an A+ grade, 11,52,671 got A, 5,95,865 got B, 2,57,313 got C, and 2,79,290 got D. In 2023, 15,77,966, 13,44,188, 6,85,372, 2,63,589, and 2,64,048 students had received A+, A, B, C, and D grades, respectively.
Conclusion: Addressing the Crisis
The high dropout rates and declining school performance in Assam underscore the urgent need for effective educational interventions. Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach, including better infrastructure, teacher training, and community engagement. By tackling these issues head-on, Assam can work towards ensuring a brighter educational future for its children.
