Bhubaneswar, Odisha – A recent report by the Odisha Economic Survey 2023-24 has revealed that Odisha has one of the highest secondary level dropout rates in India, with a staggering 27.29% of students dropping out of school before completing Class 10.
The report, published on Wednesday, highlights that despite a 22.2% reduction in dropout rates at the secondary level between 2014-15 and 2021-22, Odisha still lags behind other states in terms of student retention. The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) at primary and upper primary levels is also lower than the all-India average.
According to the report, the GER in Odisha stands at 91.3% at the upper primary level, 80.4% at the secondary level, and 43.6% at the higher secondary level. However, the enrollment figures at primary and upper primary levels are below the national average.
The report’s findings are consistent with the Ministry of Education’s UDISE+ 2021-22 report, which stated that 27.3% of students in Odisha drop out of school before transitioning to higher secondary level, with boys (29.2%) and girls (25.2%) equally affected. This is the highest dropout rate in the country, followed by Meghalaya (21.7%) and Bihar (20.5%).
Odisha has a total of 62,291 schools, with an enrollment figure of 75 lakh students. The state government’s efforts to improve education infrastructure and retention rates are underway, but more needs to be done to address the high dropout rate and ensure that students complete their secondary education.
The Odisha Economic Survey 2023-24 report’s findings are a cause for concern and highlight the need for sustained efforts to improve education outcomes in the state.
