SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has a dropout rate exceeding 13 percent at the secondary school level, placing it among the highest in North India for student abandonment, according to official data.
The figures show that Ladakh has the highest dropout rate in the northern region, with 19.84 percent at the secondary level.
“The dropout rate at the secondary level in Jammu and Kashmir stands at 13.42 percent, while Ladakh’s rate is a staggering 19.84 percent,” the data reveals.
The data further shows that the dropout rate at the primary level in Jammu and Kashmir is 1.6 percent, compared to 4.3 percent in Ladakh. At the upper primary level, the dropout rate stands at 3.2 percent in Jammu and Kashmir and 5.8 percent in Ladakh.
Earlier this month, reports suggested that 12 percent of learners at the senior secondary level had quit their studies midway.
The figures also highlight that the retention rate in Jammu and Kashmir is 82.7 percent at the primary level and 88.42 percent at the senior secondary level.
Despite these challenges, official documents state that about 46,000 out-of-school children (OoSC) have been mainstreamed.
The data also notes a significant shift of students from private to government schools, with an impressive enrolment of 217,890 students in 2022-23, marking a 17.87 percent increase in total enrolment.
Furthermore, the education department has introduced vocational education in 804 schools, expanding to 1,067 schools in 2023-24, benefiting approximately 1.25 lakh students. (KNO)
