Bhubaneswar, Dec, 11: While concerns are being raised at all levels regarding students dropping out, it has been found that most students discontinue their studies in Classes 9 and 10.
According to information received from the government, the average dropout rate at the primary level in the state is 0.7%. At the upper primary level (Classes 6 to 8), an average of 3.2Percent of children drop out. Among them, 3.7Percent are boys and 2.6Percent are girls.
However, the dropout rate is significantly higher in the secondary classes, especially in Classes 9 and 10. In the 2024–25 academic year, an average of 15Percent of students dropped out in these two classes. Of these, 17.3Percent were boys, and 12.5Percentwere girls. In 2023–24, the dropout rate for these classes was 12.8Percent
Among the districts, Nabarangpur recorded the highest dropout rate in Classes 9 and 10, at 29.7Percent. The rate was 23.8Percentn Boudh, 23.2Percent in Nayagarh, 22Percent in Keonjhar, 21.9Percent in Bhadrak, 21.3Percent in Malkangiri, and 20Percentin Angul. Meanwhile, Khordha recorded 0Percent, Cuttack 7.6Percent, and Puri 7.9Percent.
Records show that boys drop out more than girls. In Nabarangpur district, 30Percent of boys at the secondary level dropped out. In Bhadrak, the figure was 26.4%, while in Keonjhar it was 26.1Percent.
At the upper primary level, 3.7Percent of boys dropped out, with Malkangiri reporting the highest at 13.2Percent. In Jharsuguda, there were no dropouts recorded at this level.
Despite the state government providing free uniforms, midday meals, books, bicycles, scholarships, and other facilities to attract students to school, the continued dropout of students has become a matter of concern for the authorities.
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