New Delhi: Student dropouts in the 14 to 18 years age group have emerged as a major concern for the government, with nearly 72 percent students leaving school at this stage, according to Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy. He said the government is actively working on this challenge and believes that financial reasons are among the key factors contributing to dropouts, though multiple social and systemic issues are also involved.
Sanjay Kumar said the Centre is planning to strengthen the open schooling system so that students who discontinue formal schooling can return to education. As part of this effort, National Institute of Open Schooling centres will be expanded and made more accessible.
The government is planning to open NIOS centres at PM SHRI Schools and in major areas . The Centre will also suggest to state governments to start their own open schooling centres to widen coverage for dropout students.
Data Sharing and Financial Support Through Samagra Shiksha
To ensure targeted outreach, the government will share data of dropout students with NIOS, enabling the institute to directly reach students who have left school. The Centre is also planning to integrate funds under Samagra Shiksha for open schooling, especially to support students from economically weaker backgrounds. According to officials, the government’s view is that financial hardship plays an important role in school dropouts, and targeted funding can help bring students back into the education system.
Limited Secondary School Seats Remain a Challenge
Sanjay Kumar acknowledged that availability of seats in Classes 9 to 12 remains limited in India, which also contributes to dropout rates. He said India has around 14.70 lakh schools, and nearly half of them are primary schools, highlighting the need to expand secondary and senior secondary infrastructure.
Major Achievements in School Education Sector
The Secretary also shared key achievements of the Ministry of Education under the Department of School Education and Literacy:
Uniform Support: Under Samagra Shiksha, two sets of uniforms were provided to 7.06 crore girls and SC/ST/BPL students up to Class VIII in 2025–26, with approvals of ₹4,14,712.79 lakh.
Free Textbooks: ₹2,83,237.62 lakh approved for free textbooks for 9.09 crore eligible children in government and aided schools in 2025–26.
School Upgradation: Between 2018–19 and 2025–26, 3,999 schools upgraded and 80,315 schools strengthened with additional classrooms.
Digital Education: 1,40,650 schools covered under ICT and smart classroom initiatives.
KGBV Expansion: 317 KGBVs upgraded to Class X and 2,365 upgraded to Class XII to support girls’ education.
Girls’ Infrastructure: 41,051 separate girls’ toilets constructed across schools.
The government reiterated that reducing school dropouts is a top priority, and ongoing reforms in open schooling, infrastructure expansion, and financial support mechanisms are aimed at ensuring education continuity for every child.
Click Here for More Latest News