Measures to Increase Access to Education: Dropout Rates and Initiatives
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Governance
Why in news
The Ministry of Education released dropout rates for 2024-25 and 2025-26, showing a decline in primary and higher secondary levels but a slight increase in middle school. The government highlighted various schemes and financial support to states, including West Bengal, to reduce dropout rates and improve infrastructure.
Background
Education is in the Concurrent List, so states are primarily responsible for school administration. The central government supports states through centrally sponsored schemes like Samagra Shiksha, STARS, and PM SHRI. The Right to Education Act, 2009, sets norms for pupil-teacher ratio and infrastructure.
Key facts
Dropout rates (2024-25): Primary (Class III-V) 2.3%, Middle (VI-VIII) 3.5%, Higher Secondary (IX-XII) 8.2%.
Dropout rates (2025-26): Primary 1.8%, Middle 3.6%, Higher Secondary 7.0%.
Data source: Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).
Centrally sponsored schemes: Samagra Shiksha, STARS, and PM SHRI provide support for infrastructure like classrooms, toilets, drinking water, electricity, boundary walls, libraries, ICT, and digital classrooms.
Infrastructure needs are decided annually by states/UTs based on UDISE+ data and their proposals, reflected in Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B).
Project Approval Board (PAB) reviews and approves plans in consultation with states/UTs.
PM POSHAN provides hot cooked meals for Balvatika to Class 8.
Financial assistance to states includes opening/strengthening schools up to higher secondary, setting up Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) up to Class 12, establishing Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Residential Schools/hostels, hostels under PM-JANMAN and DAJJU, transport allowance, enrolment campaigns, seasonal hostels, skill education, ICT facilities, free textbooks and uniforms.
PM SHRI scheme aims to develop over 14,500 schools as model schools demonstrating NEP 2020 initiatives.
PM e-Vidya launched on 17 May 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, integrating digital/online/on-air education for multi-mode access.
Prelims pointers
- UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus)
- Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
- STARS (Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States)
- PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India)
- PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman)
- Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)
- PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan)
- Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJJU)
- PM e-Vidya
- Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009
Mains angles
- Discuss the effectiveness of government schemes in reducing dropout rates and improving educational access.
- Critically examine the role of central and state governments in school education, given the Concurrent List status.
- Analyze the impact of digital initiatives like PM e-Vidya on bridging the educational divide.
- Evaluate the infrastructure and teacher availability in schools with respect to RTE norms.