To cut drop-out rate, education officials get targets

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While clear instructions have been issued on how quality improvement is needed in classes up to Standard V; the state government has accepted that they currently have no schools as role models or clear targets as far as Standards classes V to IX are concerned.

“At least nine per cent of students drop out in Std IX every year. Hence, every officer has to prepare a plan at their individual levels to bring the drop-out rate in ninth standard to zero. Every officer must organise symposiums on this subject and submit action taken report to the Maharashtra State Council for Education, Research and Training,” states the government resolution (GR) signed by Nand Kumar, principal secretary of school education and sports department.
The issue of high drop-out rates in schools is serious and is part of the key result areas which the Chief Minister has set for the education department, say officials.

“Until Standard VIII, every student gets promoted due to the no-fail policy, but the real test comes in the standard IX when the student is evaluated. If we have a system of evaluation and remedial measures for academically poor students right from Class V, there will be no need for these students to drop out in Class IX,” said Nand Kumar.

Education officials have been asked to ensure they conduct meetings with individual school management committees to work out solutions to reduce drop-out ratios. They have been given specific targets for which third-party audits would take place. The education officer (secondary) will have to ensure 100 schools achieve zero drop-out rate up to Std IX. District education deputy directors have been allotted 40 schools each while education directors have been asked to take up 200 schools from special focus districts. The education commissioner has to pick up five districts with 40 schools each.

Since there is no role model, the state government has also made it clear that whichever district is able to bring down drop-out ratio to zero will be taken up a role model for the state.

“Attendance of students and teachers have to be recorded through biometric system. On an experimental basis, one centre has to be chosen by primary and secondary education officer where this system will be installed. This has to be done by December and within one week, a detailed communication in this regard will be shared,” said Nand Kumar.