‘Dropout’ rate in Goa’s schools rises to 14%
PANAJI:
The rate of school dropouts in Goa from Classes I to X has gone up
significantly to nearly 14% in 2013-14, according to the latest
statistical publication of the directorate of education (DoE).
The dropout rate is up from 10% during the previous academic year and the largest number has dropped out at the primary school level, if the statistics are to be believed.
The data shows that 7.99% children dropped-out of school from Class I to IV during the academic year 2013-14, which is an increase from 5% during the earlier academic session. The drop out was slightly higher among boys at the primary school level than girls. But, more girls tended to drop out of school as they reach higher classes, as per the DoE's statistics.
Director of education G P Bhat said the increase in the drop out rate can be largely attributed to the closure of mining operations in the state, which he said has led to families of migrants to leave Goa and return to their home state or elsewhere in search of work.
"Many schools in the mining belt have had to close down their divisions with the migrant employees of mines leaving the state with their children due to the closure of operations," Bhat said.
Though the statistics show that the dropout rate has improved in the state from Classes I to X from a shocking 31% in 2007-08 to 13.94% today, the number opting out of school seems to have gone worse in recent years from just 3.32% recorded in 2011-12.
Educationist Ramesh Gauns believes that the exodus of migrant children cannot be the only reason for the high dropout recorded and said that the reality is quite the opposite of what the statistics have to state.
"In reality, we see that children in Goa tend to drop out of school more as they reach the higher classes. The reasons for school dropouts vary from region to region in Goa and closure of mining operations cannot be said to be the lone reason. Also, if the migrant children have gone elsewhere and if they happen to join the school at their new place of residence, they cannot be termed as dropouts. A provision should be made take this into account while preparing the statistics,"
he said.
He also said that the data should be prepared for the state leaving out the numbers in the mining belt to determine the actual dropout rate in other areas of the state to be able to remedy the situation appropriately.
The dropout rate is up from 10% during the previous academic year and the largest number has dropped out at the primary school level, if the statistics are to be believed.
The data shows that 7.99% children dropped-out of school from Class I to IV during the academic year 2013-14, which is an increase from 5% during the earlier academic session. The drop out was slightly higher among boys at the primary school level than girls. But, more girls tended to drop out of school as they reach higher classes, as per the DoE's statistics.
Director of education G P Bhat said the increase in the drop out rate can be largely attributed to the closure of mining operations in the state, which he said has led to families of migrants to leave Goa and return to their home state or elsewhere in search of work.
"Many schools in the mining belt have had to close down their divisions with the migrant employees of mines leaving the state with their children due to the closure of operations," Bhat said.
Though the statistics show that the dropout rate has improved in the state from Classes I to X from a shocking 31% in 2007-08 to 13.94% today, the number opting out of school seems to have gone worse in recent years from just 3.32% recorded in 2011-12.
Educationist Ramesh Gauns believes that the exodus of migrant children cannot be the only reason for the high dropout recorded and said that the reality is quite the opposite of what the statistics have to state.
"In reality, we see that children in Goa tend to drop out of school more as they reach the higher classes. The reasons for school dropouts vary from region to region in Goa and closure of mining operations cannot be said to be the lone reason. Also, if the migrant children have gone elsewhere and if they happen to join the school at their new place of residence, they cannot be termed as dropouts. A provision should be made take this into account while preparing the statistics,"
he said.
He also said that the data should be prepared for the state leaving out the numbers in the mining belt to determine the actual dropout rate in other areas of the state to be able to remedy the situation appropriately.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Dropout-rate-in-Goas-schools-rises-to-14/articleshow/42200244.cms
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